TY  - JOUR
AU  - Ghosh, Arka
AU  - Agnihotri, Jagriti
AU  - Bhalotia, Sradha
AU  - Sati, Bharat Kumar
AU  - Agarwal, Latika
AU  - A, Akash
AU  - Tandon, Swastika
AU  - Meena, Komal
AU  - Raj, Shreyash
AU  - Azad, Yatin
AU  - Gupta, Silky
AU  - Gupta, Nitin
PY  - 2023
DA  - 2023/5/3
TI  - Serious Games Based on Cognitive Bias Modification and Learned Helplessness Paradigms for the Treatment of Depression: Design and Acceptability Study
JO  - JMIR Serious Games
SP  - e37105
VL  - 11
KW  - serious games
KW  - cognitive bias modification
KW  - learned helplessness
KW  - depression
KW  - digital intervention
KW  - mobile phone
AB  - Background: Depression is a debilitating mental health disorder, with a large treatment gap. Recent years have seen a surge in digital interventions to bridge this treatment gap. Most of these interventions are based on computerized cognitive behavioral therapy. Despite the efficacy of computerized cognitive behavioral therapy–based interventions, their uptake is low and dropout rates are high. Cognitive bias modification (CBM) paradigms provide a complementary approach to digital interventions for depression. However, interventions based on CBM paradigms have been reported to be repetitive and boring. Objective: In this paper, we described the conceptualization, design, and acceptability of serious games based on CBM paradigms and the learned helplessness paradigm. Methods: We searched the literature for CBM paradigms that were shown to be effective in reducing depressive symptoms. For each of the CBM paradigms, we ideated how to create a game so that the gameplay was engaging while the active therapeutic component remained unchanged. Results: We developed 5 serious games based on the CBM paradigms and the learned helplessness paradigm. The games include various core elements of gamification, such as goals, challenges, feedback, rewards, progress, and fun. Overall, the games received positive acceptability ratings from 15 users. Conclusions: These games may help improve the effectiveness and engagement levels of computerized interventions for depression. 
SN  - 2291-9279
UR  - https://games.jmir.org/2023/1/e37105
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2196/37105
UR  - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37133923
DO  - 10.2196/37105
ID  - info:doi/10.2196/37105
ER  -