German scientists use Super Mario to treat depression

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In a study at the University of Bonn, researchers used video games to treat people with depression – with astonishing results.

What kind of study was that? A study at the University of Bonn was intended to examine the effects of 3D video games on subjects with major depressive disorder. The 46 participants were divided into 3 groups and subjected to one of 3 types of treatment over 6 weeks:

  • One group played the Nintendo classic Super Mario Odyssey on the Switch
  • One group worked with the computer program “Cogpack,” which is intended to improve brain performance
  • One group received “standard treatment” in the form of psychotherapy and/or medication

    • The aim of the study was to examine the influence of video games on the mood, motivation and memory of those affected.

    Our expertise on MeinMMO is gaming and everything that goes with it, not medicine. If you are struggling with depression, please contact a doctor you trust.
    Anyone who needs short-term help can contact Telephone Counseling free of charge and around the clock. You can reach them at 0800/111 0 111, 0800/111 0 222 or 116 123 or on the official website.

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    Video games can have a positive effect on well-being

    What was the result of the study? In fact, the researchers were the only ones able to demonstrate a significant reduction in depressive symptoms in the gaming group. Super Mario beat both the cognitive training program and classic therapy in this area.

    Working memory, on the other hand, only showed improvement on a single test, while the CogPack group improved on all visuospatial memory functions.

    What is particularly interesting, however, is that the participants in the gaming group had significantly higher motivation to continue their “treatment”. The researchers recommend that the results of the study be interpreted with caution and explain that further studies with larger samples are necessary.

    Nevertheless, the results show that video games can have a positive effect on well-being and have the potential to be used at least as a supplement to treatment at some point.

    If you are interested in the scientific aspect, you can find the complete study on Frontiers in Psychiatry.

    Scientists have long recognized the potential of video games in research, and not just at the University of Bonn. A scientist wanted to explore the connection between certain mental illnesses and complex problem-solving skills and used an 8-year-old city builder on Steam.

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