Modeling an Augmented Reality Game Environment to Enhance Behavior of ADHD Patients

Abstract

The paper generically models an augmented reality game-based environment to project the gamification of an online cognitive behavioral therapist that performs instant measurements for patients with a predefined Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in which patients have difficulties related to inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Those patients are in need for a psychological therapy; the use of cognitive behavioral therapy as a firmly-established treatment is to help in enhancing the way they think and behave. A major limitation in traditional cognitive behavioral therapies is that therapists may face difficulty to optimize patients' neuropsychological stimulus following a specified treatment plan, i.e., therapists struggle to draw clear images when stimulating patients' mindset to a point where they should be. Other limitations recognized here include availability, accessibility and level-of-experience of the therapists. Therefore, the paper present a gamification model, we term as "AR-Therapist," in order to take advantages of augmented reality developments to engage patients in both real and virtual game-based environments. The model provides an on-time measurements of patients' progress throughout the treatment sessions which, in result, overcomes limitations observed in traditional cognitive behavioral therapies.

A serious-gamification blueprint towards a normalized attention

“…In light of the rich literature, this paper will propose a blueprint that serves as generic reference model to test the validity of using an online immersive reality system that manifests behavior as an interplay between stimulation and response of actions as a CBT to feature qualities of intelligence, responsiveness, adaptiveness and precision. The previous works, presented in [51][52][53], stride implemented an augmented reality game environment using both Microsoft-HoloLens emulator 1 and Unity 2 to design a specialized test-bed for the system. The hypothesis tackled was that an increase in patient correct attention to choosing a predefined object contributes positively to their performance index which means they are following along with their treatment plan; the opposite should be true when they fail to achieve their assigned tasks.…”

AR-Therapist: Design and Simulation of an AR-Game Environment as a CBT for Patients with ADHD

“…Other advantages are availability, accessibility, and assurance of the therapist's level-of-experience which cannot be guaranteed in traditional CBT. Therefore, this paper extends the work presented by the authors in [12] by introducing an AR-based system through modeling and simulation called "AR-Therapist" that serves as an online CBT. We design an augmented reality game using both Microsoft-HoloLens emulator-to tests mixed reality apps on a PC without a physical HoloLens-and Unity -a cross-platform game engine-applications to design a testbed for the system.…”

Adjuvant Therapy for Attention in Children with ADHD Using Game-Type Digital Therapy

“…NeuroWorld DTx research offers the advantage of improving the objectively measured inattentiveness of pediatric ADHD patients and increasing compliance through greater motivation and the active participation of children, including those refusing to participate in the study, or not giving up or missing out on participants. In the future, the transformation and expansion of game-type content, such as group therapy, can be configured to induce various social relationships [ 45 , 46 ].…”