A new pilot study shows video games can have a profound impact on schizophrenia patients.
The study discovered that both the 3D and 2D Mario video game training groups showed significant improvements in sustained attention compared to the control group.
Notably, video game patients also showed reductions in negative symptoms, such as anhedonia (losing the ability to feel pleasure from activities one typically usually enjoys) and amotivation (lack of motivation or drive to engage in normal day-to-day activities). The patients also reported better overall mental health recovery.
Proposed mechanism of action: “goal-driven and continuous interaction with the game impacts the patients’ experienced self-efficacy (defined as beliefs of how well one masters tasks and deals with prospective situations) which has been linked to mental health and psychopathology.â€
10 years from now this will all seem so obvious, but today we keep pressing on, learning and confirming.
Source: https://www.psypost.org/video-games-boost-cognitive-function-and-mental-health-in-schizophrenia-patients/
