Serious Games Based on Cognitive Bias Modification and Learned Helplessness Paradigms for the Treatment of Depression: Design and Acceptability Study

Arka Ghosh; Jagriti Agnihotri; Sradha Bhalotia; Bharat Kumar Sati; Latika Agarwal; Akash A; Swastika Tandon; Komal Meena; Shreyash Raj; Yatin Azad; Silky Gupta; Nitin Gupta

doi:10.2196/37105

Serious Games Based on Cognitive Bias Modification and Learned Helplessness Paradigms for the Treatment of Depression: Design and Acceptability Study

JMIR Serious Games. 2023 May 3:11:e37105. doi: 10.2196/37105.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, India.
² Department of Cognitive Science, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, India.
³ Mehta Family Center for Engineering in Medicine, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, India.

PMID: 37133923
PMCID: PMC10193222
DOI: 10.2196/37105

Abstract

Background: Depression is a debilitating mental health disorder, with a large treatment gap. Recent years have seen a surge in digital interventions to bridge this treatment gap. Most of these interventions are based on computerized cognitive behavioral therapy. Despite the efficacy of computerized cognitive behavioral therapy-based interventions, their uptake is low and dropout rates are high. Cognitive bias modification (CBM) paradigms provide a complementary approach to digital interventions for depression. However, interventions based on CBM paradigms have been reported to be repetitive and boring.

Objective: In this paper, we described the conceptualization, design, and acceptability of serious games based on CBM paradigms and the learned helplessness paradigm.

Methods: We searched the literature for CBM paradigms that were shown to be effective in reducing depressive symptoms. For each of the CBM paradigms, we ideated how to create a game so that the gameplay was engaging while the active therapeutic component remained unchanged.

Results: We developed 5 serious games based on the CBM paradigms and the learned helplessness paradigm. The games include various core elements of gamification, such as goals, challenges, feedback, rewards, progress, and fun. Overall, the games received positive acceptability ratings from 15 users.

Conclusions: These games may help improve the effectiveness and engagement levels of computerized interventions for depression.

Keywords: cognitive bias modification; depression; digital intervention; learned helplessness; mobile phone; serious games.

©Arka Ghosh, Jagriti Agnihotri, Sradha Bhalotia, Bharat Kumar Sati, Latika Agarwal, Akash A, Swastika Tandon, Komal Meena, Shreyash Raj, Yatin Azad, Silky Gupta, Nitin Gupta. Originally published in JMIR Serious Games (https://games.jmir.org), 03.05.2023.