A smartphone-based serious game for depressive symptoms: Protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Digital mental health interventions
• Serious games in healthcare
• Mobile health (mHealth) applications

Background:

• Depression is a widespread mental health issue with significant personal and societal costs.
• Traditional treatments face access barriers, prompting exploration of digital solutions.
• Smartphone-based interventions show promise as accessible and effective alternatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of a smartphone-based serious game for mild to moderate depressive symptoms.
• To evaluate the potential of serious games for improving engagement and adherence in mental health treatment.
• To gather preliminary data on user experience, including satisfaction, usability, and playability.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled pilot trial with two arms: a smartphone-based serious game intervention and a waitlist control group.
• Recruitment of 40 adult participants (18+) with mild to moderate depressive symptoms.
• A two-month intervention period with assessment of primary outcome (depressive symptomatology) and secondary outcomes (physical activity, resilience, anxiety, etc.).

Main Results:

• N/A - This is a protocol for a pilot study; results are pending.
• N/A - This is a protocol for a pilot study; results are pending.
• N/A - This is a protocol for a pilot study; results are pending.

Conclusions:

• This pilot study protocol outlines a novel approach to treating depression using a smartphone-based serious game.
• Findings will inform the design of larger randomized controlled trials for digital mental health interventions.
• The study explores leveraging smartphone technology for enhanced engagement and adherence in mental health care.