Acceptability of a plasticity-focused serious game intervention for posttraumatic stress disorder: User requirements analysis

TY - JOUR

T1 - Acceptability of a plasticity-focused serious game intervention for posttraumatic stress disorder

T2 - User requirements analysis

AU - Jones, Matthew

AU - Denisova, Alena

AU - Mitchell, Stephen

AU - Owen, Tom

N1 - ©Matthew Jones, Alena Denisova, Stephen Mitchell, Tom Owen

PY - 2019/4/1

Y1 - 2019/4/1

N2 - Background: Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) is a first-line treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Despite a solid evidence base, TF-CBT response and attrition rates vary considerably. Plasticity-focused interventions, including the use of serious games, have the potential to improve TF-CBT response and treatment retention. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the acceptability of a mobile phone-delivered plasticity-focused serious game to improve response to TF-CBT for PTSD, and carry out a user requirements analysis should the development of a prototype be warranted. Methods: We conducted 2 one-to-one interviews (n=2), one focus group involving service users who had received a diagnosis of PTSD (n=3) and one focus group involving psychological trauma service clinicians (n=4). Results: We found that the concept of a plasticity-focused mobile phone intervention for PTSD is acceptable to patients and clinicians. Service users and clinicians both believed that the usage should be guided by a therapist, and both contributed useful inputs regarding the audiovisual aspects of the proposed serious game. It was accepted that the game would not be suitable for all patients and that clinicians would need to appropriately prescribe the usage of the game. Conclusions: The findings highlight the acceptability of the proposed serious game and clarify the user requirements for such an intervention. It is the intention of the authors to carry out a user experience evaluation using a prototype serious game in a clinical population.

AB - Background: Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) is a first-line treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Despite a solid evidence base, TF-CBT response and attrition rates vary considerably. Plasticity-focused interventions, including the use of serious games, have the potential to improve TF-CBT response and treatment retention. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the acceptability of a mobile phone-delivered plasticity-focused serious game to improve response to TF-CBT for PTSD, and carry out a user requirements analysis should the development of a prototype be warranted. Methods: We conducted 2 one-to-one interviews (n=2), one focus group involving service users who had received a diagnosis of PTSD (n=3) and one focus group involving psychological trauma service clinicians (n=4). Results: We found that the concept of a plasticity-focused mobile phone intervention for PTSD is acceptable to patients and clinicians. Service users and clinicians both believed that the usage should be guided by a therapist, and both contributed useful inputs regarding the audiovisual aspects of the proposed serious game. It was accepted that the game would not be suitable for all patients and that clinicians would need to appropriately prescribe the usage of the game. Conclusions: The findings highlight the acceptability of the proposed serious game and clarify the user requirements for such an intervention. It is the intention of the authors to carry out a user experience evaluation using a prototype serious game in a clinical population.

KW - Cognitive behavioral therapy

KW - Mobile applications

KW - Neuronal plasticity

KW - PTSD

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85102523609&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.2196/11909

DO - 10.2196/11909

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85102523609

SN - 2291-9279

VL - 7

JO - JMIR Serious Games

JF - JMIR Serious Games

IS - 2

M1 - e11909

ER -