A Novel ACT-based Video Game

A Novel ACT-based Video Game to Support Mental Health Through Embedded Learning: A Mixed-methods Feasibility Study Protocol

A feasibility study to explore whether an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) can reduce mental health outcomes (stress, anxiety, depression) and increase psychological flexibility.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Depression; Quality of Life; Anxiety; Stress, Emotional; Psychological Flexibility; Social Connecedness
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Acceptance and commitment therapy video game

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 29
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • Wales
    • Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom, SA28PP
      • Swansea University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 16 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults reporting some existing form of anxiety, depression or ongoing stress.
• Need ability to read and write English.
• Need internet access to play the videogame.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Those who are under 18

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: ACT video game	Behavioral: Acceptance and commitment therapy video game; The intervention is a videogame which teaches the participant about acceptance and commitment therapy.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of participants recruited for the study	Feasibility outcome for recruitment.	3 Weeks
Number of participants who completed all aspects of the study	Feasibility outcome for retention of participants.	3 Weeks
Reflexive thematic analysis themes	Acceptability of the intervention assessed through qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews.	3 Weeks; Immediate post intervention, and 3-week follow-up

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (Depression subscale)	Quantitative psychometric measure for depression. Score Range: Min=0, Max=21. Higher scores indicate higher depression.	3 Weeks; Baseline, immediate post intervention, and 3-week folllow-up
Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (Anxiety subscale)	Quantitative psychometric measure for anxiety. Score Range: Min=0, Max=21. Higher scores indicate higher anxiety.	3 Weeks; Baseline, immediate post intervention, and 3-week folllow-up
Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (Stress subscale)	Quantitative psychometric measure for stress. Score Range: Min=0, Max=21. Higher score indicate higher stress.	3 Weeks; Baseline, immediate post intervention, and 3-week folllow-up
Acceptance and Action Questionnaire- second version	Quantitative psychometric measure for psychological inflexibility. Score Range: Min=7, Max=49. Higher scores indicate higher psychological inflexibility.	3 Weeks; Baseline, immediate post intervention, and 3-week folllow-up
Social Connectedness (adapted from Russell's (1996) University of California, Los Angeles Loneliness Scale)	Quantitative psychometric measure of Social Connectedness. Score range: Min=2, Max=8. Higher scores indicate higher social connectedness.	3 Weeks; Baseline, immediate post intervention, and 3-week folllow-up
Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale	Quantitative psychometric measure of mental well-being with a focus on positive aspects of mental health. Score Range: Min=14, Max=70. Higher scores indicate higher wellbeing.	3 Weeks; Baseline, immediate post intervention, and 3-week folllow-up
EuroQol five dimensions (Mobility Subscale)	Score Range: Min=1, Max=5. Higher scores indicate lower mobility.	3 Weeks; Baseline, immediate post intervention, and 3-week folllow-up
EuroQol five dimensions (Self-care Subscale)	Score Range: Min=1, Max=5. Higher scores indicate lower self-care.	3 Weeks; Baseline, immediate post intervention, and 3-week folllow-up
EuroQol five dimensions (Usual Activities Subscale)	Score Range: Min=1, Max=5. Higher scores indicate lower partaking in usual activities.	3 Weeks; Baseline, immediate post intervention, and 3-week folllow-up
EuroQol five dimensions (Pain/Discomfort Subscale)	Score Range: Min=1, Max=5. Higher scores indicate lower pain/discomfort.	3 Weeks; Baseline, immediate post intervention, and 3-week folllow-up
EuroQol five dimensions (Anxiety/Depression Subscale)	Score Range: Min=1, Max=5. Higher scores indicate lower anxiety/depression.	3 Weeks; Baseline, immediate post intervention, and 3-week folllow-up
EuroQol five dimensions (Score to indicate how health is today)	Score Range: Min=0, Max=100. Higher scores indicate higher health.	3 Weeks; Baseline, immediate post intervention, and 3-week folllow-up

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Swansea University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Edwards DJ, Kemp AH. A novel ACT-based video game to support mental health through embedded learning: a mixed-methods feasibility study protocol. BMJ Open. 2020 Nov 16;10(11):e041667. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-041667.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 31, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 31, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): December 31, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 21, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 24, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): September 28, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 4, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 29, 2024
• Last Verified: February 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavioral Symptoms; Stress, Psychological
• Other Study ID Numbers: Swansea U1

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No