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Testing a gamified Spider App to reduce spider fear and avoidance.
Anke Haberkamp1, Hannah Walter1, Phillipp Althaus1
1Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany.
Journal of Anxiety Disorders
|November 9, 2020
Summary
This study found that a gamified mobile app effectively reduced spider phobia by combining exposure therapy with game elements. Participants showed decreased avoidance and anxiety towards spiders after using the app.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Digital Health
Background:
- Mobile applications are increasingly integrated into mental health treatment.
- Existing apps for anxiety disorders often use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques like exposure, which can be distressing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of a mobile application combining exposure principles with gamification for treating spider phobia.
- To assess if gamification elements enhance motivation and reduce distress during exposure to feared stimuli.
Main Methods:
- A mobile app integrated exposure principles with gamification (narrative, progression, points, feedback).
- Spider-fearful individuals used the 'Spider App' (experimental) or a control app for 7 days (12 min/day).
- Outcomes measured included avoidance behavior (BAT) and spider anxiety (SPQ, FAS), depression, and psychological distress.
Main Results:
- The experimental group showed significantly reduced spider avoidance behavior and anxiety compared to the control group.
- No differences were found between groups in depression or general psychological distress.
- Participants using the 'Spider App' reported transiently higher anxiety, disgust, and arousal, which decreased over the study period.
Conclusions:
- Gamified mobile applications incorporating exposure principles can be effective in reducing specific phobias like arachnophobia.
- The findings suggest potential for digital interventions to improve clinical practice for anxiety disorders.
- While initial distress may increase, gamification may facilitate sustained engagement and symptom reduction.
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