Gaming apps that are based on science can effectively reduce anxiety levels without any medications, a latest study shows.
Even 25 minutes on the science-based gaming apps can significantly lower anxiety levels, researchers found.
"Millions of people suffering from psychological distress fail to seek or receive mental health services," said lead researcher Tracy Dennis of Hunter College in New York, in a press release.
"A key factor here is that many evidence-based treatments are burdensome - time consuming, expensive, difficult to access, and perceived as stigmatizing."
For the study, researchers tested the consequences of using a latest type of cognitive treatment for anxiety known as attention-bias modification training (ABMT). ABMT diverts the patients' attention away from a threatening stimulus and focuses on a stimulus that is non-threatening.
The study authors developed a game that had ABMT. To test the effectiveness of the app, the researchers recruited around 75 participants diagnosed with anxiety.
A set of participants were told to play the game that instructed them to follow two characters around the screen. Other set was told to play another game that served as the control group. The participants were required to trace the characters' steps quickly and accurately for 25 to 45 minutes.
The researchers told the participants to give a short speech about the game. The speeches were recorded, which can be a highly stressful situation for people with anxiety.
The findings showed that people who played the ABMT game showed less nervous behavior and speech in comparison to the participants from the control group. The ABMT respondents also reported feeling less negative emotions.
"Even the 'short dosage' of the app - about 25 minutes - had potent effects on anxiety and stress measured in the lab," said Dennis. "This is good news in terms of the potential to translate these technologies into mobile app format because use of apps tends to be brief and on-the-go."
The researchers said that they believed that the app could be modified and used as a treatment for people with anxiety and stress disorders, as well as other mental health conditions such as depression.
The study was published in 'Clinical Psychological Science.
