Front Psychiatry January 2018 PMID 29403398

Commercial Video Games As Therapy: A New Research Agenda to Unlock the Potential of a Global Pastime.

Michelle Colder Carras, Antonius J Van Rooij, Donna Spruijt-Metz, Joseph Kvedar, Mark D Griffiths, Yorghos Carabas, Alain Labrique

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Mentions

21
Peak: 2 in Aug 2020
across 5 sources since Jan 2018

Extended reach

21,923
potential audience

Total likes

276

Video views

4,427

Mentions per month

Jan 2018 – Apr 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter7 posts
  • Facebook7 posts
  • YouTube3 videos
  • News3 articles
  • Blogs1 articles

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions reflect a positive reception towards the research, with examples like one poster mentioning the use of portable games for preoperative anxiety and another highlighting how gaming helps them cope with stress, illustrating genuine interest and engagement. The tone varies from supportive to skeptical, but overall indicates a moderate acknowledgment of the article's relevance and potential influence.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most comments support the idea that video games can be beneficial for mental health, with at least one referencing positive research and others expressing personal agreement.

InterestHigh interest

Discussions show high curiosity about the topic, with posts mentioning specific applications and advocating for more research, indicating strong interest.

EngagementModerate engagement

Users are actively engaging with the subject by sharing examples, referencing studies, and discussing personal experiences, which reflects thoughtful involvement.

ImpactModerate impact

While the overall enthusiasm suggests recognition of potential benefits, the conversations are mostly speculative or personal, so the perceived real-world impact is moderate.

Abstract in brief

  • Emerging research indicates that commercial off-the-shelf video games could have applications in prevention and therapy for mental and physical health, but systematic studies are lacking.
  • Challenges to academic research include inconsistent terminology, rapidly evolving technology, societal attitudes, and complex interactions between individual and social factors.
  • The paper advocates for a new interdisciplinary research approach, highlighting grassroots online communities already using video games for healing, prevention, and recovery purposes.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Michelle Carras
@peacefulbeingol · X

@naomicfisher Hi Naomi! This is my area of research, and I couldn't agree with you more. #videogames can be good for #mentalhealth, not just for kids. Hopefully you've seen some of this already: https://t.co/0CK7uz2Ziw https://t.co/lItMYYyKFf

Aug 6, 2022 · 5 likes · 346 followers View post →
Luis F. Rivera-Chavez
@drfeliperivera · X

Commercial Video Games As Therapy: A New Research Agenda to Unlock the Potential of a Global Pastime

Apr 30, 2020 · 3 likes · 1,803 followers View post →
Michelle Carras
@peacefulbeingol · X

Unfortunate article about gaming https://t.co/oKTa8vddwW that does a poor job of being backed by evidence, except for the great study by @ShuhBillSkee. Casino gaming to boost cognitive skills-bad idea. No links to evidence? Try this: https://t.co/0CK7uz2Ziw

Jun 7, 2021 · 2 likes · 346 followers View post →
Dr. Avimanyu Bandyopadhyay
@iAvimanyu · X

@mrdanielranson For me, taking a break and #gaming really helps in handling, or more appropriately bypassing stressful #mentalhealth states while at #work. Following is a very resourceful reference that explores the same: https://t.co/2CT7MkX4RA

Aug 25, 2020 · 1 like · 2,132 followers View post →
PF Anderson @pfanderson@disabled.social
@pfanderson · X

Commercial Video Games As Therapy: A New Research Agenda to Unlock the Potential of a Global Pastime https://t.co/us6slrW7Cy #games #gaming

Feb 5, 2019 · 10,770 followers View post →
Dr. Nuclear Wolf
@NuclearWolf79 · X

Commercial Video Games As Therapy: A New Research Agenda to Unlock the Potential of a Global Pastime https://t.co/bsWomDi2bf

Feb 27, 2021 · 1,567 followers View post →

All mentions

Michelle Carras
@peacefulbeingol · X

@naomicfisher Hi Naomi! This is my area of research, and I couldn't agree with you more. #videogames can be good for #mentalhealth, not just for kids. Hopefully you've seen some of this already: https://t.co/0CK7uz2Ziw https://t.co/lItMYYyKFf

Aug 6, 2022 · 5 likes · 346 followers View post →
Alver Vonlenska alverspin.bsky.social
@Alverspin · X

Retomando la lectura. Dice el artículo "Para niños en preoperatorio un juego portátil es más útil contra la ansiedad pre-operación que una dosis de midazolam" https://t.co/LE2KXqXzRr

Sep 9, 2021 · 424 followers View post →
Michelle Carras
@peacefulbeingol · X

Unfortunate article about gaming https://t.co/oKTa8vddwW that does a poor job of being backed by evidence, except for the great study by @ShuhBillSkee. Casino gaming to boost cognitive skills-bad idea. No links to evidence? Try this: https://t.co/0CK7uz2Ziw

Jun 7, 2021 · 2 likes · 346 followers View post →
Dr. Nuclear Wolf
@NuclearWolf79 · X

Commercial Video Games As Therapy: A New Research Agenda to Unlock the Potential of a Global Pastime https://t.co/bsWomDi2bf

Feb 27, 2021 · 1,567 followers View post →
Dr. Avimanyu Bandyopadhyay
@iAvimanyu · X

@mrdanielranson For me, taking a break and #gaming really helps in handling, or more appropriately bypassing stressful #mentalhealth states while at #work. Following is a very resourceful reference that explores the same: https://t.co/2CT7MkX4RA

Aug 25, 2020 · 1 like · 2,132 followers View post →
Luis F. Rivera-Chavez
@drfeliperivera · X

Commercial Video Games As Therapy: A New Research Agenda to Unlock the Potential of a Global Pastime

Apr 30, 2020 · 3 likes · 1,803 followers View post →
PF Anderson @pfanderson@disabled.social
@pfanderson · X

Commercial Video Games As Therapy: A New Research Agenda to Unlock the Potential of a Global Pastime https://t.co/us6slrW7Cy #games #gaming

Feb 5, 2019 · 10,770 followers View post →
Doctor Tendler
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Dec 11, 2025 View →
Honess
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org/10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00300. Cerni, R. T., & Talmud, I. (2015). To Know that you are Not Alone: The Effect of Internet Usage on LGBT Youth’s Social ...

Dec 11, 2025 View →
Mystiness - Facebook
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org/10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00300. Cerni, R. T., & Talmud, I. (2015). To Know that you are. Not Alone: The Effect of Internet Usage on LGBT Youth’s Social ...

Dec 11, 2025 View →
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Dec 11, 2025 View →
Nancy O'Hara - Demystifying PANS PANDAS PDF | PDF
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https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00564. 228 Ravin, K. A., & Loy, M. (2015) ... https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2017.00300. 308 Huss, M, Völp, A, Stauss ...

Dec 11, 2025 View →
Max Well-Being a Modular Platform for the Gamification of ...
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Psychiatry 8, 300. rehabilitation programs: an integrated psycho-social approach. Scand. J. Med. Sci. Sports doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00300 18, 798–809. doi ...

Dec 11, 2025 View →
Video Game Therapy for Mental Health: Design, Challenges, and ...
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https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00300. 3. Granic, I., Lobel, A., & Engels, R. C. (2014). The benefits of playing video games. The American ...

Nov 27, 2023 View →
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doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00300. More references. Share on Facebook Share · Share on X Tweet · Share on Bluesky · Share on LinkedIn ...

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... 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00300. Cerni, R. T., & Talmud, I. (2015). To Know that you are Not Alone: The Effect of Internet Usage on LGBT Youth’s ...

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Mishra returned to the Ashok Gehlot government its redrafted ...
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org/10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00300. Cerni, R. T., & Talmud, I. (2015). To Know that you are Not Alone: The Effect of Internet Usage on LGBT Youthâ ...

Jul 27, 2020 View →
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