Serious games and gamification for mental health: Current status and promising directions

Frontiers in Psychiatry

Volumn 7, Issue JAN, 2017, Pages

  Fleming, Theresa M ^a   Bavin, Lynda ^a   Stasiak, Karolina ^a   Hermansson Webb, Eve ^a   Merry, Sally N ^a   Cheek, Colleen ^b   Lucassen, Mathijs ^a,c   Lau, Ho Ming ^d   Pollmuller, Britta ^e   Hetrick, Sarah ^f  

^a UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND   (New Zealand)

^b UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA   (Australia)

^c OPEN UNIVERSITY   (United Kingdom)

^d VU UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER   (Netherlands)

^e AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY   (New Zealand)

^f UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE   (Australia)

Author keywords

Computerized CBT; E therapy; Engagement; Games for health; Gamification; Serious gaming

Indexed keywords

ANXIETY DISORDER; ARTICLE; BEHAVIOR CHANGE; COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY; DEPRESSION; EXPERIENCE; FEEDBACK SYSTEM; GAME; HUMAN; MENTAL HEALTH; MOTIVATION; TREATMENT PLANNING; VIDEO GAME; VIRTUAL REALITY;

EID: 85012066323     PISSN: None     EISSN: 16640640     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2016.00215     Document Type: Article

References (50)

1. Brooks FM, Chester KL, Smeeton NC, Spencer NH. Video gaming in adolescence: factors associated with leisure time use. J Youth Stud (2016) 19(1):36-54. doi: 10.1080/13676261.2015.1048200.
2. Entertainment Software Association. Essential Facts about the Computer and Video Game Industry. (2015). Available from: http://www.theesa.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/ESA-Essential-Facts-2015.pdf.
3. Connolly TM, Boyle EA, MacArthur E, Hainey T, Boyle JM. A systematic literature review of empirical evidence on computer games and serious games. Comput Educ (2012) 59(2):661-86. doi:10.1016/j.compedu.2012.03.004.
4. Andrews A. Serious games for psychological health education. In: Shumaker R, editor. Virtual and Mixed Reality-Systems and Applications. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer (2011). p. 3-10.
5. Dondlinger MJ. Educational video game design: a review of the literature. J Appl Educ Technol (2007) 4(1):21-31.
6. Read JL, Shortell SM. Interactive games to promote behavior change in prevention and treatment. J Am Med Assoc (2011) 305(16):1704-5. doi:10.1001/jama.2011.408.
7. Burke JW, McNeill MDJ, Charles DK, Morrow PJ, Crosbie JH, McDonough SM. Optimising engagement for stroke rehabilitation using serious games. Vis Comput (2009) 25(12):1085-99. doi:10.1007/s00371-009-0387-4.
8. Chatham RE. Games for training. Commun ACM (2007) 50(7):36-43. doi:10.1145/1272516.1272537.
9. Fleming T, Cheek C, Merry S, Thabrew H, Bridgman H, Stasiak K, et al. Serious games for the treatment or prevention of depression: a systematic review. Revista de Psicopatología y Psicología Clínica (2014) 19(3):227-42. doi:10.5944/rppc.vol.19.num.3.2014.13904.
10. Deterding S, Dixon D, Khaled R, Nacke L. From game design elements to gamefulness: defining gamification. Proceedings of the 15th International Academic MindTrek Conference: Envisioning Future Media Environments. Tampere: ACM (2011). p. 9-15.
11. Anguera JA, Boccanfuso J, Rintoul JL, Al-Hashimi O, Faraji F, Janowich J, et al. Video game training enhances cognitive control in older adults. Nature (2013) 501(7465):97-101. doi:10.1038/nature12486.
12. Fleming T, Dixon R, Frampton C, Merry S. A pragmatic randomized controlled trial of computerized CBT (SPARX) for symptoms of depression among adolescents excluded from mainstream education. Behav Cogn Psychother (2012) 40(05):529-41. doi:10.1017/S1352465811000695.
13. Khazaal Y, Chatton A, Prezzemolo R, Zebouni F, Edel Y, Jacquet J, et al. Impact of a board-game approach on current smokers: a randomized controlled trial. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy (2013) 8(1):1. doi:10.1186/1747-597X-8-3.
14. Khazaal Y, Chatton A, Dieben K, Huguelet P, Boucherie M, Monney G, et al. Reducing delusional conviction through a cognitive-based group training game: a multicentre randomized controlled trial. Front Psychiatry (2015) 6:66. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00066.
15. Leutwyler H, Hubbard E, Cooper B, Dowling G. The impact of a videogame-based pilot physical activity program in older adults with schizophrenia on subjectively and objectively measured physical activity. Front Psychiatry (2015) 6:180. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00180.
16. Merry SN, Stasiak K, Shepherd M, Frampton C, Fleming T, Lucassen MF. The effectiveness of SPARX, a computerised self help intervention for adolescents seeking help for depression: randomised controlled non-inferiority trial. BMJ (2012) 344:e2598. doi:10.1136/bmj.e2598.
17. Tárrega S, Castro-Carreras L, Fernández-Aranda F, Granero R, Giner-Bartolomé C, Aymamí N, et al. A serious videogame as an additional therapy tool for training emotional regulation and impulsivity control in severe gambling disorder. Front Psychol (2015) 6:1721. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01721.
18. Bakker D, Kazantzis N, Rickwood D, Rickard N. Mental health smartphone apps: review and evidence-based recommendations for future developments. JMIR Ment Health (2016) 3(1):e7. doi:10.2196/mental.4984.
19. Martínez-Pérez B, De La Torre-Díez I, López-Coronado M. Mobile health applications for the most prevalent conditions by the World Health Organization: review and analysis. J Med Internet Res (2013) 15(6):e120. doi:10.2196/jmir.2600.
20. Miloff A, Marklund A, Carlbring P. The challenger app for social anxiety disorder: new advances in mobile psychological treatment. Internet Interv (2015) 2(4):382-91. doi:10.1016/j.invent.2015.08.001.
21. Marchand A, Hennig-Thurau T. Value creation in the video game industry: industry economics, consumer benefits, and research opportunities. J Interact Mark (2013) 27:141-57. doi:10.1016/j.intmar.2013.05.001.
22. Andrade LH, Alonso J, Mneimneh Z, Wells JE, Al-Hamzawi A, Borges G, et al. Barriers to mental health treatment: results from the WHO World Mental Health (WMH) Surveys. Psychol Med (2014) 44(6):1303-17. doi:10.1017/S0033291713001943.
23. Batterham PJ, Neil AL, Bennett K, Griffiths KM, Christensen H. Predictors of adherence among community users of a cognitive behavior therapy website. Patient Prefer Adherence (2008) 2:97-105.
24. Fleming TM, de Beurs D, Khazaal Y, Gaggioli A, Riva G, Botella C, et al. Maximizing the impact of E-therapy and serious gaming: time for a paradigm shift. Front Psychiatry (2016) 7:65. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2016.00065.
25. Eyal N. Hooked: How to build Habit-Forming Products. Canada: Penguin (2014).
26. Cheek C, Fleming T, Lucassen MF, Bridgman H, Stasiak K, Shepherd M, et al. Integrating health behavior theory and design elements in serious games. JMIR Ment Health (2015) 2(2): doi:10.2196/mental.4133.
27. Oulasvirta A, Rattenbury T, Ma L, Raita E. Habits make smartphone use more pervasive. Pers Ubiquit Comput (2012) 16(1):105-14. doi:10.1007/s00779-011-0412-2.
28. Hamari J, Tuunanen J. Player types: a meta-synthesis. Trans Digit Games Res Assoc (2014) 1(2):29-53.
29. Billieux J, Van der Linden M, Achab S, Khazaal Y, Paraskevopoulos L, Zullino D, et al. Why do you play World of Warcraft? An in-depth exploration of self-reported motivations to play online and in-game behaviours in the virtual world of Azeroth. Comput Human Behav (2013) 29(1):103-9. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2012.07.021.
30. Khazaal Y, Fernandez S, Cochand S, Reboh I, Zullino D. Quality of web-based information on social phobia: a cross-sectional study. Depress Anxiety (2008) 25(5):461-5. doi:10.1002/da.20381.
31. Li J, Theng YL, Foo S. Effect of Exergames on depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw (2016) 19(1):34-42. doi:10.1089/cyber.2015.0366.
32. Li J, Theng YL, Foo S. Game-based digital interventions for depression therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw (2014) 17(8):519-27. doi:10.1089/cyber.2013.0481.
33. Rosenberg D, Depp CA, Vahia IV, Reichstadt J, Palmer BW, Kerr J, et al. Exergames for subsyndromal depression in older adults: a pilot study of a novel intervention. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry (2010) 18(3):221-6. doi:10.1097/JGP.0b013e3181c534b5.
34. Rizzo A, Difede J, Rothbaum BO, Daughtry JM, Reger G. Virtual reality as a tool for delivering PTSD exposure therapy. In: Safir MP, Wallach HS, Rizzo A, editors. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Future Directions in Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment. New York: Springer (2013).
35. Roepke A, Jaffee S, Riffle O, McGonigal J, Broome R, Bez M. Randomized controlled trial of SuperBetter, a smartphone-based/Internet-based self-help tool to reduce depressive symptoms. Games Health J (2015) 4(3):235-46. doi:10.1089/g4h.2014.0046.
36. Knox M, Lentini J, Cummings TS, McGrady A, Whearty K, Sancrant L. Game-based biofeedback for paediatric anxiety and depression. Men Health Fam Med (2011) 8(3):195.
37. Holmes EA, James EL, Coode-Bate T, Deeprose C. Can playing the computer game "Tetris" reduce the build-up of flashbacks for trauma? A proposal from cognitive science. PLoS One (2009) 4(1):e4153. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0004153.
38. Gutiérrez-Maldonado J, Wiederhold BK, Riva G. Future directions: how virtual reality can further improve the assessment and treatment of eating disorders and obesity. Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw (2016) 19(2):148-53. doi:10.1089/cyber.2015.0412.
39. Laforest M, Bouchard S, Crétu AM, Mesly OD. Inducing an anxiety response using a contaminated virtual environment: validation of a therapeutic tool for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Front ICT (2016) 3:18. doi:10.3389/fict.2016.00018.
40. Riva G, Baños RM, Botella C, Mantovani F, Gaggioli A. Transforming experience: the potential of augmented reality and virtual reality for enhancing personal and Clinical change. Front Psychiatry (2016) 7:164. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2016.00164.
41. Ferguson CJ, Rueda SM. The Hitman Study. Eur Psychol (2010) 15(2):99-108. doi:10.1027/1016-9040/a000010.
42. Valadez JJ, Ferguson CJ. Just a game after all: violent video game exposure and time spent playing effects on hostile feelings, depression, and visuospatial cognition. Comput Human Behav (2012) 28(2):608-16. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2011.11.006.
43. Rossoniello CV, O'Brien K, Parks JM. The effectiveness of casual video games in improving mood and decreasing stress. J Cyber Ther Rehabil (2009) 2(1):53-66.
44. Skorka-Brown J, Andrade J, Whalley B, May J. Playing Tetris decreases drug and other cravings in real world settings. Addict Behav (2015) 51:165-70. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2015.07.020.
45. Alvarez L, Sotres J, León S, Estrella J, Sosa J. Computer program in the treatment for major depression and cognitive impairment in university students. Comput Human Behav (2008) 24:3. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2007.02.013.
46. Rice SM, Goodall J, Hetrick SE, Parker AG, Gilbertson T, Amminger GP, et al. Online and social networking interventions for the treatment of depression in young people: a systematic review. J Med Internet Res (2014) 16(9):e206. doi:10.2196/jmir.3304.
47. Robinson J, Cox G, Bailey E, Hetrick S, Rodrigues M, Fisher S, et al. Social media and suicide prevention: a systematic review. Early Interv Psychiatry (2015) 10(2):103-21. doi:10.1111/eip.12229.
48. Baranowski T, Buday R, Thompson DI, Baranowski J. Playing for real: video games and stories for health-related behavior change. Am J Prev Med (2008) 34(1):74-82. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2007.09.027.
49. Zyda M. From visual simulation to virtual reality to games. Computer (2005) 38(9):25-32. doi:10.1109/MC.2005.297.
50. Wikipedia. Gamergate Controversy. Wikimedia Foundation (2016). Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamergate_controversy.