Commercial Video Games As Therapy: A New Research Agenda to Unlock the Potential of a Global Pastime

Carras, Michelle Colder; Rooij, Antonius J. van; Spruijt‐Metz, Donna; Kvedar, Joseph C.; Griffiths, Mark D.; Carabas, Yorghos; Labrique, Alain

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00300

Cited by 107 publications

(83 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Whilst considering that this domain of research is promising, previous authors have highlighted the need for comparative evaluations of these different types of games and regular evaluations of their effects in these indications (38). Therefore, the aim of this literature review was to evaluate the effectiveness of serious games and commercially available games in the treatment and prevention of psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Therapeutic and Preventive Use of Video Games in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: A Systematic Review

2020

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Background: Over the past decade, the use of commercial video games and serious games has developed in child and adolescent psychiatry. These games may become relevant alternatives or adjuncts to traditional psychotherapy, providing that their effectiveness is properly established. The purpose of this literature review was to evaluate the effectiveness of serious games and commercial video games in the treatment or prevention of psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents. Methods: Medline's database was used to search articles published between January 2012 and July 2019. The following keywords were used for this search: "Video games" OR "Active video game" OR "serious gaming" OR "Serious game" OR "Exergame" AND "Child mental disorder" OR "Adolescent" OR "Child" AND "Therapy" OR "Prevention". Only comparative studies which targeted interventions on children and adolescents suffering from psychiatric disorders were included. Results: Twenty-two studies, focusing on a wide range of psychiatric conditions, met our inclusion criteria's: 14 evaluated serious games and 8 commercial games. All studies were randomized controlled trials but only two studies compared the intervention game to psychotherapeutic gold standard; other studies used a no-intervention control group or an alternative game as the control group. Eighteen studies reported significant improvements on the symptoms and test scores targeted. Conclusion: Serious games and commercially available video games can be an effective trajectory for psychotherapy in child and adolescent psychiatry. However, there is a lack of longitudinal studies which assess the sustained effects of these games, and standards for proper evaluation of their effectiveness are missing.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Therapeutic and Preventive Use of Video Games in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: A Systematic Review

2020

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“…Playing video games has become one of the most valued entertainment options for approximately 2.34 billion individuals (Statista, 2018). Research has confirmed that gaming can have many positive educational, social, and therapeutic effects in a healthy context (Colder Carras et al, 2018;Granic, Lobel, & Engels, 2014;Griffiths, Kuss, & Ortiz de Gortari, 2017;Nuyens, Kuss, Lopez-Fernandez, & Griffiths, 2018). However, for a minority of individuals, gaming is used in a dysfunctional way, becoming disruptive and potentially meeting criteria for addiction (Griffiths, 2005;Pontes & Griffiths, 2015b) with impacts experienced on a cognitive, psychological, and emotional level.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of family and personality traits in Internet gaming disorder: A mediation model combining cognitive and attachment perspectives

et al. 2019

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Background and aims: Gaming disorder was recently recognized as a mental health disorder by the World Health Organization and included in the International Classification of Diseases. Extensive research has been conducted with regard to psychosocial correlates and comorbidity, less so for the developmental mechanisms and the processes leading to the disorder. The association between family factors, personality traits, and gaming has been studied independently but not in combination. To fill this gap in knowledge, this study examined (a) the association between parental acceptance-rejection theory and Internet gaming disorder (IGD) and (b) the mediating and moderating effect of core self-evaluations (CSE), a personality construct, on the aforementioned variables. Methods: The study was quantitative and involved young adults members of online gaming communities (N = 225). Results: The results showed that parental rejection is associated with the occurrence of IGD, only through the mediating effect of CSE. The moderation model was not confirmed. Discussion: Findings bridge early emotional deficits with CSE personality traits and IGD, based on two widely acknowledged theoretical frameworks. In addition, they highlight the importance of the father's role in upbringing. Conclusions: These frameworks combine cognitive and attachment perspectives and a process-oriented approach to the development and maintenance of IGD. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to (a) the mechanisms leading to the disorder and (b) providing an evidence base for therapeutic interventions for IGD to go beyond abstinence and include self-esteem enhancement and efficacy contingencies. Directions for future research are also provided in this study.

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“…The entrepreneurs of computer or mobiles games, aiming the better health of users must keep the aspect of corporate social responsibility in their plans [20] . The corporate social responsibility is keystone for the success of business [21] helping in video game therapy for good health [22] . We mainly focused on those people who live in far-flung areas where facilities of schools and hospitals are not enough and significant in terms of a number of inhabitants having depression due to social and environmental factors.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Financially-rich game: A stress reliever that behaves intelligently based on the performance and health condition of player

et al. 2019

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Health is affected by the financial, environmental and work conditions. In this paper, we have proposed an algorithm to be used in a game so that it could behave intelligently for stress relieving and health care rather than in a traditional leisure. Our study explores the efficacy of intelligent games to keep the interest of a user in computer usage that helps in the reduction of stress. The games keep track of a user's actions and decide intelligently which best next level should be provoked to the user for keeping his/her interest in the game. In several experiments it has been observed that after playing stress relief game, users become less distracted by rejection, help releasing their stress and anxiety.

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Commercial Video Games As Therapy: A New Research Agenda to Unlock the Potential of a Global Pastime

Cited by 107 publications

References 44 publications

Therapeutic and Preventive Use of Video Games in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: A Systematic Review

Therapeutic and Preventive Use of Video Games in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: A Systematic Review

The role of family and personality traits in Internet gaming disorder: A mediation model combining cognitive and attachment perspectives

Financially-rich game: A stress reliever that behaves intelligently based on the performance and health condition of player

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