Year: 2024
Type: review
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: The use of smartphone-based Serious Games in mental health care is an emerging and promising research field. Combining the intrinsic characteristics of games (e.g., interactiveness, immersiveness, playfulness, user-tailoring and engaging nature) with the capabilities of smartphones (e.g., versatility, ubiquitous connectivity, built-in sensors and anywhere-anytime nature) yields great potential to deliver innovative psychological treatments, which are engaging, effective, fun and always available. This article presents a scoping review, based on the PRISMA (scoping review extension) guidelines, of the field of smartphone-based serious games for mental health care. The review combines an analysis of the technical characteristics, including game design, smartphone and game-specific features, with psychological dimensions, including type and purpose of use, underlying psychological frameworks and strategies. It also explores the integration of psychological features into Serious Games and summarizes the findings of evaluations performed. A systematic search identified 40 smartphone-based Serious Games for mental health care. The majority consist of standalone and self-administrable interventions, applying a myriad of psychological strategies to address a wide range of psychological symptoms and disorders. The findings explore the potential of Serious Games as treatments and for enhancing patient engagement; we conclude by proposing several avenues for future research in order to identify best practices and success factors. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11042-024-18971-w.
Authors: Águeda Gómez-Cambronero, Anna-Lisa Mann, Adriana Mira, Gavin Doherty, Sven Casteleyn
Language: English
Subfield: Applied Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $2,990
Funders: American Concrete Institute Foundation, European Commission, Science Foundation Ireland, Generalitat Valenciana, Universitat Jaume I, European Regional Development Fund, Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Conselleria de Innovación, Universidades, Ciencia y Sociedad Digital, Generalitat Valenciana
OpenAlex ID: W4394012772