102 Chapter 2 Paper Country Target group N % male Age, mean (SD) Age range Intervention arms Intervention characteristics Assessments Variables measured Findings relevant for current review Merry, Stasiak et al. 2012 New Zealand Adolescents seeking help for their depressive symptoms 187 34.2 15.56 (1.60) 12-19 years 1. SPARX (applied game). 2. TAU (active condition). 1. Seven modules delivered over a period of 4 to 7 weeks. 2. Comprising primarily face to face counselling delivered by trained counsellors and clinical psychologist. Pre, post, and 3-months FU. Depressive symptoms, clinical depression, quality of life enjoyment and satisfaction, hopelessness, anxiety symptoms, overall improvement; age, gender, ethnicity, setting, baseline depression and type of TAU (moderators); safety data, adherence rates, satisfaction with and enjoyment of the intervention. * Both groups showed a reduction in depressive symptoms at post-test. There were no differences in response rates between the groups on the observer rated scale; self-reported depressive symptoms improved more in the SPARX group compared to TAU. Remission rates were significantly higher in the SPARX group than in the TAU group. Improvements were maintained at FU. Poppelaars et al. 2021 The Netherlands Youth with elevated depressive symptoms 244 33.6 17.11 (1.76) 15-20 years 1. Journey (applied game**). 2. Flower (casual game). 3. Passive condition (passive condition). 1-2. Participants were given 4 weeks to complete the game; no further restrictions were given to encourage naturalistic gameplay. 3. Participants continued their normal routine and only completed questionnaires. They were offered Journey and/or Flower after the last questionnaire. Pre, post, 6 and 12months FU. Depressive symptoms; age, rejection sensitivity, narrative identity, hope and optimism, coping strategies (moderators); game engagement and experience. All participants decreased in depressive symptoms. Results showed no beneficial effects of playing Journey on youth’s change in depressive symptoms above and beyond the Flower and passive control groups.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTk4NDMw