RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT05923944

Video Game Play to Alleviate Adolescent Anxiety

Evaluating the Effect of Gamified Cognitive Training and of Casual Videogame Play on Anxiety in Adolescents: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Sponsor

School of Health Sciences Geneva

Enrollment

150 participants

Start Date

Jun 1, 2024

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Anxiety Anxiety Disorders and Symptoms

Summary

Adolescence is a critical period for the onset and maintenance of anxiety disorders, which raises the importance of intervening early; one possibility of doing so is via digital interventions. At least two lines of research have been explored in the past years in this area. First, studies have tested the anxiolytic effects of casual video games, hypothesizing that, through the induction of flow, these games can effectively distract individuals from anxiety-related thoughts and feelings. Second, the bidirectional link between poor attentional control and higher anxiety has led to the design of novel interventions aiming to improve attentional control such as working memory training studies. Importantly, action video games, classified as a distinct gaming genre, have been shown to enhance attentional control. In this study, we aim to compare the effects of action video game play and casual game play to a no-training group, assessing their potential to alleviate anxiety when delivered entirely online. The goal of this three- arms randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the feasibility of a 6-week video game training intervention to reduce adolescent anxiety-related symptoms. We will also examine the efficacy of the proposed treatment when entirely deployed at adolescents' home.

Eligibility

Min Age: 11 YearsMax Age: 15 Years

Inclusion Criteria3

Adolescents aged 11-15 years
High-anxious score from the 41 items SCARED-Parent version (i.e. total score equal or above 17)
Access to a computer (at least Windows 7 or Mac OSX) at home and a reliable internet connection

Exclusion Criteria3

DSM diagnoses of Bipolar, Psychosis, Autism Spectrum Disorder, present or past.
Neurological injury (i.e. head injury)
Currently enrolled in another cognitive training intervention

Interventions

BEHAVIORALEco-Rescue

Ecorescue is a gamified adaptation of the multiple object tracking task (MOT) combined with a detection task. It requires to track the spatial position of specific moving targets among visually similar moving distractors, while at the same time detecting briefly flashed events. It was designed to load on attentional control and visuo-spatial working memory. Additionally, targets may express various facial emotions (happy, angry or neutral) requiring some emotional control in addition to attentional control.

BEHAVIORALBejelewed 3

Bejeweled 3 is a commercially available puzzle video game developed and edited by PopCap Games. The main objective is to swap two adjacent gems of seven colors to create a line or row of 3 or more gems of the same type. When these gems are aligned, they disappear, and points are earned. The goal is to get as many points as possible until it is impossible to line up gems. Bejeweled 3 offers a variety of game modes that players can freely explore at their own pace, enhancing the overall enjoyment and providing increased variability during each gaming session. These game modes typically have shorter durations, with a single game usually lasting less than 5 minutes. Bejeweled 3 was chosen as it requires fewer attentional resources compared to Eco-Rescue and because it was reported to reduce stress and anxiety in adult samples (Russoniello et al. 2009, 2013).