Video Games: The Latest Treatment in the Battle Against Depression

The more we study video games, the more we find just how beneficial they may be. From losing weight to fighting dementia, researchers are discovering that stereotype of the “violent video gamer” may be just that: a stereotype -- And now there’s research that shows how video games may actually serve to boost our moods and battle depression.

A video game called SuperBetter is currently the subject of several studies on depression and anxiety. The creator of another game called Personal Zen published a paper recently in the journal Clinical Psychological Science which explained that playing it for just 25 minutes is proven to lower anxiety levels. And the Department of Veteran Affairs is currently researching whether their PTSD Coach app would benefit from having more “game-like” elements to help treat veterans suffering from chronic anxiety.

So, what’s the science behind the idea of games as a means towards treating mental health issues? Well, we have to first take into account the type of games that have been found to relieve symptoms of mood disorders -- Don’t pull out the Halo or Grand Theft Auto just yet. “Casual” video games, the simpler ones we tend to play when we find ourselves caught in the middle of a boring conference call at work like “Bejeweled” or “FloodIt,” for example, are the ones that tend to bring down stress levels and ease symptoms of depression.

Part of the reasoning behind it is very simple -- Having fun is healthy. It’s been proven that having fun isn’t just good for your head; it can also have a seriously beneficial effect on your physical health. Another reason behind the findings is that, when you’re depressed, completing simple tasks can be a big mood booster. Casual video games allow just that, by having the user do something as easy as clicking on a smiling face, or going outside for a few minutes. Other games get straight to the heart of the matter by focusing on teaching users to battle negative thoughts and focus on positive ones instead.

No matter what the reasons, it’s good to know that there are simple solutions out there for fighting our personal demons. Just be sure to keep all of that research in your back pocket as an excuse in case your boss ever walks in on you playing your 100th game of Candy Crush of the morning.

[Pic via Flickr - JD Hancock]