The Role of Serious Video Games in the Treatment of Disordered Eating: A Systematic Review (Preprint)

Abstract

Eating disorders and other forms of disordered eating cause significant complications and comorbidities in patients. However, full remission with current standard treatment remains low. Challenges to treatment include under diagnosis, high dropout rates, as well as difficulties in addressing underlying emotional dysregulation, poor impulse control and personality traits. Serious video games (SVGs) with the advantages of being highly engaging and accessible, may be potential vehicles to deliver various forms of treatment in addressing the underlying psychopathology of disordered eating.

This review aims to provide an overview of the possible mechanisms by which SVGs may affect the clinical course of disordered eating, while evaluating the outcomes of studies that have assessed the role of SVGs in the treatment of disordered eating.

A systematic search was performed on Pubmed, PsychINFO and Embase using keywords related to serious games, disordered eating and eating disorders. A narrative synthesis was subsequently carried out.

2151 papers were identified, from which 11 papers were included. 10 of which were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) while 1 was a quasi-experimental study. The types of SVG interventions varied across the studies and targeted different mechanisms of disorder eating, ranging from addressing problem solving and emotional regulation skills to neurocognitive training for inhibitory control. Most studies showed some benefit of the SVGs in improving certain physical, behavioral or psychological outcomes related to disordered eating. Some studies also showed encouraging evidence of the retention of these benefits at follow-up.

The studies included in this review provide collective evidence to suggest the various roles SVGs can play in plugging potential gaps in conventional therapy. Nonetheless, challenges exist in the designing of these games to prevent potential pitfalls such as excessive stress arising from the SVGs themselves or potential gaming addiction. Further studies will also be required to assess the long-term benefits of these SVGs as well as to explore its potential preventive, and not just curative effects on disordered eating.

Not Applicable