title: Serious Games and Gamification for Mental Health: Current Status and Promising Directions.
abstract: Computer games are ubiquitous and can be utilized for serious purposes such as health and education. "Applied games" including serious games (in brief, computerized games for serious purposes) and gamification (gaming elements used outside of games) have the potential to increase the impact of mental health internet interventionsviathree processes. First, by extending the reach of online programs to those who might not otherwise use them. Second, by improving engagement through both game-based and "serious" motivational dynamics. Third, by utilizing varied mechanisms for change, including therapeutic processes and gaming features. In this scoping review, we aim to advance the field by exploring the potential and opportunities available in this area. We review engagement factors which may be exploited and demonstrate that there is promising evidence of effectiveness for serious games for depression from contemporary systematic reviews. We illustrate six major categories of tested applied games for mental health (exergames, virtual reality, cognitive behavior therapy-based games, entertainment games, biofeedback, and cognitive training games) and demonstrate that it is feasible to translate traditional evidence-based interventions into computer gaming formats and to exploit features of computer games for therapeutic change. Applied games have considerable potential for increasing the impact of online interventions for mental health. However, there are few independent trials, and direct comparisons of game-based and non-game-based interventions are lacking. Further research, faster iterations, rapid testing, non-traditional collaborations, and user-centered approaches are needed to respond to diverse user needs and preferences in rapidly changing environments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Department of Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Theresa M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Auckland , Auckland , New Zealand.
authors.forename: Lynda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bavin
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Auckland , Auckland , New Zealand.
authors.forename: Karolina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stasiak
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Auckland , Auckland , New Zealand.
authors.forename: Eve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hermansson-Webb
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Auckland , Auckland , New Zealand.
authors.forename: Sally N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Merry
authors.affiliation: University of Tasmania Rural Clinical School , Burnie, TAS , Australia.
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cheek
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Department of Health, Wellbeing and Social Care, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK.
authors.forename: Mathijs
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lucassen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center , Amsterdam , Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ho Ming
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: School of Art and Design, Auckland University of Technology , Auckland , New Zealand.
authors.forename: Britta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pollmuller
authors.affiliation: Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne , Parkville, VIC , Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hetrick
keywords: computerized CBT; e-therapy; engagement; games for health; gamification; serious gaming