Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Close

So, arevideo gamesthe future of mental health treatment?

For this report, researchers from Lero, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Software, looked at earlier studies to see whether commercialvideo games(not just specialized therapeutic games) could fill in existing gaps in mental health treatment, particularly for depression and anxiety.

Evidence shows that video games could help alleviate symptoms of depression, such as the loss of pleasure. The video games “Minecraft” and “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” also fostered social connectedness and reduced loneliness.

“Video games provide connection, a critical aspect of mental health, feeling like you are part of a community of like-minded people who value your participation and share your goal within the game,” saysGlenn Platt, PhD, professor of emerging technology and director of the interactive media studies program at Miami University in Ohio.

Isolation plays a significant role in anxiety and depressive disorders. The support of a community within a game ecosystem mitigates this.—GLENN PLATT, PHD

Isolation plays a significant role in anxiety and depressive disorders. The support of a community within a game ecosystem mitigates this.

—GLENN PLATT, PHD

Certain video games providemood regulationbenefits, as well. In one study, adolescents who played “Mario Kart” had better emotional regulation skills than peers who didn’t play the game.

Plus, video games could be used as a therapeutic distraction that could help regulate moods, reduce rumination, and even evoke joy.

Studies have also shown that video games can help address and treat symptoms of anxiety. In one experiment, people with anxiety who played the tower defense game “Plants vs. Zombies” four times a week for at least a half hour each session experienced better mental health outcomes than those who took medication. In some experiments, video games like “Max and the Magic Marker” were also shown to help prevent elevatedanxiety in kids.

“As a licensed professional counselor and personal gamer myself, I am ecstatic to see more research studies and resources start proliferating around serious psychological discussions,” says Drew Lightfoot, LPC, clinical director atThriveworks Philadelphia.

Video games can be used to help effectively treat anxiety, depression, and social anxiety.—DREW LIGHTFOOT, LPC

Video games can be used to help effectively treat anxiety, depression, and social anxiety.

—DREW LIGHTFOOT, LPC

“The problem with bespoke video games (like ‘brain games’) is that they generally aren’t really games. When you are told to click things on a screen to improve your mental health, that is also not a game—it is a therapy,” says Platt.

He continues: “A critical quality of a game—what makes it a game—is that it is played voluntarily. Research has repeatedly validated the importance of intrinsicmotivationfor effective behavior change, which is what leads us to the critical insight from this article: that people play commercial video games because they want to.

In addition to uncovering therapeutic benefits of commercial video games, these games could help deliver mental health support where it’s most needed.

Video games are already popular among people age 18 to 54, who also tend to face high rates of mental health issues.As acceptance of the emotional benefits of video games grows, it could help break downstigmasagainst both gaming and mental illnesses.

“We need to stop inaccurately stereotyping gamers and acknowledge that we are all gamers now,” says Platt.

In much the same way that other media, like books, television, and movies, were not taken seriously when first introduced, society needs to accept video games as a legitimate media that can actually improve the lives of those who engage.—GLENN PLATT, PHD

In much the same way that other media, like books, television, and movies, were not taken seriously when first introduced, society needs to accept video games as a legitimate media that can actually improve the lives of those who engage.

Access to video games is also free of many of the barriers that prevent people from getting traditional mental health care.

“Video games could offer greater access to adjunctive therapeutic intervention as they can be played at home and at any time, as opposed to traditional care, which typically occurs less frequently and can be prohibitively expensive,” explainsMichael L. Birnbaum, MD, assistant professor at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research and program director of the early treatment program at Northwell Health’s behavioral health services.

“We should be wary of suggesting that gaming could be an alternative to therapy. Video games can be a great addition to fill the gap, but they’re not sufficient enough to be an alternative,” says Lightfoot. “The research documents the accurate representation of the difficulty for individuals to find and afford treatment, but video games should be an add-on—not an alternative.”

Lightfoot adds, “We need to continue to focus and fight for the core of the issue: Both public and private sectors worldwide are struggling to provide affordable, accessible, and effective mental health treatment for their populations.”

1 Source

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?