Developing Serious Video Games to Treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Tutorial Guide

Aarón Sújar, Marina Martín-Moratinos, María Rodrigo-Yanguas, Marcos Bella-Fernández, Carlos González-Tardón, David Delgado-Gómez, Hilario Blasco-Fontecilla, Aarón Sújar, Marina Martín-Moratinos, María Rodrigo-Yanguas, Marcos Bella-Fernández, Carlos González-Tardón, David Delgado-Gómez, Hilario Blasco-Fontecilla

Abstract

Video game-based therapeutic interventions have demonstrated some effectiveness in decreasing the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Compared with more traditional strategies within the multimodal treatment of ADHD, video games have certain advantages such as being comfortable, flexible, and cost-efficient. However, establishing the most appropriate type(s) of video games that should be used for this treatment remains a matter of debate, including the commercial existing video games or serious video games that are specifically constructed to target specific disorders. This guide represents a starting point for developing serious video games aimed at treating ADHD. We summarize the key points that need to be addressed to generate an effective and motivating game-based treatment. Following recommendations from the literature to create game-based treatments, we describe the development stages of a serious video game for treating ADHD. Game design should consider the interests of future users; game mechanics should be based on cognitive exercises; and therapeutic mechanisms must include the control of difficulty, engagement, motivation, time constraints, and reinforcement. To elaborate upon this guide, we performed a narrative review focused on the use of video games for the treatment of ADHD, and were inspired by our own experience during the development of the game "The Secret Trail of Moon."

Keywords: ADHD; cognitive; cognitive disorder; games; serious video games; treatment; video games.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: In the last 24 months, HBF received lecture fees from Shire. He is a recipient of an IDIPHIPSA intensification grant; involved in two clinical trials (MENSIA KOALA, NEWROFEED Study; ESKETSUI2002); and a member of the Advisory Board of ITA Salud Mental. The remaining authors do not have any conflict of interest regarding the publication of this manuscript.

©Aarón Sújar, Marina Martín-Moratinos, María Rodrigo-Yanguas, Marcos Bella-Fernández, Carlos González-Tardón, David Delgado-Gómez, Hilario Blasco-Fontecilla. Originally published in JMIR Serious Games (https://games.jmir.org), 01.08.2022.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
IDEAL-Games framework [22] adapted to create a general guide for game-based attention deficit hyperactivity disorder treatment.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Logic model built for The Secret Trail of Moon (based on Duncan et al [18]). ADHD: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

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