Video games are powerful, there are no two ways about it. Despite some outlets of the media world heavily dogpiling on the supposed negative effects that video games can produce on the mind, namely, their potential harm related to violence, addiction, and depression, but morerecent studiesover the years show how the positive aspects of playing games can improve ourmental healthand also our general well-being. This is why this landmark decision from theFood and Drug Administration (FDA)is such a monumental moment in showing how video games are being used in a positive light and for the treatment in ADHD for the very first time in history.
In the past, hearing about a video game that has the potential to help to manage a mental health disorder sounds wildly futuristic and almost impossible to imagine. It was widely believed that anyone who sits in front of a screen to play something as meaningless as a video game was seen as wasting their life and not a constructive use of time but thankfully, times are changing and we are beginning to see what a powerful outlet video games can really be. Scientists have come a long way in their development of understanding how the brain works and especially so with the progression or alleviating the symptoms of variousmental illnesseswith attention increasingly turned towards gaming as a genuine course of treatment.
For the very first time, theFood and Drug Administrationhas just greenlit a prescription-only “game-based digital therapeutic device,” which will allow doctors to prescribe the iPhone and iPad game calledEndeavorRXfor kids aged between eight and 12 years old with ADHD. Developed by American companyAkili Interactive, their hope is to completely change how video games are viewed in the medical field by using this game as part of a therapeutic program that may include clinician-directed therapy, medication, and/or educational programs, which will further address symptoms of the disorder.
The decision by the FDA was based upon multiple studies in more than 600 children including studies that evaluated, among other things, whether participants demonstrated improvements in attention function, as measured by the Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA), academic performance measures, and other assessment tools. There were no serious adverse events reported and the most common adverse events observed with EndeavorRx likeheadaches and dizziness, which pale in comparison to traditional ADHD medications that can have side effects that include sleep problems. decreased appetite, weight loss, and many others.
“The EndeavorRx device offers a non-drug option for improving symptoms associated with ADHD in children and is an important example of the growing field of digital therapy and digital therapeutics,” said Jeffrey Shuren, M.D., J.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “The FDA is committed to providing regulatory pathways that enable patients timely access to safe and effective innovative digital therapeutics.”
EndeavorRXis a simple game in design in which players control a floating speeder that jumps between obstacles to get to the end of each level. The idea of this type of video game is that even though it’s not as complex in scale as to what many gamers are used to, its main goal is used to help hold the attention and focus of children who suffer from ADHD and hopefully help to reduce the symptoms associated with it.
However, it is alsonotedthat a video game should not “be used as an alternative to established and recommended treatments for ADHD.” and also “future research is needed for this digital intervention, this study provides evidence that AKL-T01 might be used to improve objectively measured inattention in paediatric patients with ADHD, while presenting minimal adverse events.”
The next step forEndeavorRXis to launch the game. An Akili representative toldThe Vergethat they opened up enrollment for a limited number of families under the FDA’s relaxed COVID-19 enforcement back in April. If this all sounds like something you would be willing to participate in, you may head on over to thecompany’s websiteto get set up on a waitlist so you can join.
