Tuesday, June 16th 2020
American FDA Approves Video Game as ADHD Treatment, Makes it Available as a Prescription
With debates around the nature of video games' influence on psyches and behavior usually being surrounded with violence-related claims, it is certainly refreshing to see something like this happening. The American FDA (Federal Drug Administration) has recently permitted marketing of the first specifically-developed video game designed with the intention of serving as a treatment for ADHD. Under the slogan "it's time to play your medicine", the game, EndeavorRx (AKL-T01), is being marketed for children between the ages of eight and 12. It was designed to "to directly target and activate neural systems through the presentation of sensory stimuli and motor challenges to improve cognitive functioning."
The FDA has issued this permit on the basis of five different studies involving more than 600 children diagnosed with ADHD, where they were encouraged to play this particular video game. Following the test results, a measurable decrease or even dissipation of attention deficit levels in a number of ADHD-related benchmarks were seen. However, not all is green on this side of the pasture: the FDA in its approval also mentioned some verifiable, but not serious, adverse effects after the children were exposed to the EndeavorRx-based therapy, such as frustration, headache, dizziness, emotional reaction, and aggression. The FDA themselves say that the clinical trial results do not suggest this videogame prescription could be an alternative to ADHD drug-specific prescriptions, however. But it could be a first step between an ADHD diagnosis and drug-based treatments. Check out a video of the game after the break.
Sources:
FDA.gov, via TechSpot
The FDA has issued this permit on the basis of five different studies involving more than 600 children diagnosed with ADHD, where they were encouraged to play this particular video game. Following the test results, a measurable decrease or even dissipation of attention deficit levels in a number of ADHD-related benchmarks were seen. However, not all is green on this side of the pasture: the FDA in its approval also mentioned some verifiable, but not serious, adverse effects after the children were exposed to the EndeavorRx-based therapy, such as frustration, headache, dizziness, emotional reaction, and aggression. The FDA themselves say that the clinical trial results do not suggest this videogame prescription could be an alternative to ADHD drug-specific prescriptions, however. But it could be a first step between an ADHD diagnosis and drug-based treatments. Check out a video of the game after the break.
55 Comments on American FDA Approves Video Game as ADHD Treatment, Makes it Available as a Prescription
This isn't the only type of disease that's treated this way. The same sort of idea is true with antidepressants for MDD and anxiety disorders which are treated these days with SSRIs. The therapeutic effect isn't from increasing the levels of free serotonin alone. In fact, that's directly responsible for the side-effect profile of SSRIs. However, the benefit comes from the down-regulating of receptors stimulated by serotonin.
There are a lot of peer reviewed studies on all of this.
They not only help me with the anxiety but also my tendencies toward misanthropy. If I don't take them, I tend toward the sociopathic and/or lack of empathy.
Are you saying people can't have an opinion based on facts if they aren't trained in a field? :banghead:
I'm asking because YOU called ME out for having an experience and sharing said experience and acting like my opinion didn't matter.
You also stated my Doctor lied to me. This is a person who went through medical school, went through residency, trained in a certain field for years yet you pop on the internet because you disagree with my viewpoint and call him a liar. Once you call a person out, be prepared for a different viewpoint. Have an open mind and try to discuss things instead of attacking someone that has a different experience than you. Otherwise you appear foolish and troll like. With that attitude, you'll never learn anything.
Just read your last post, it's itching for an argument. I have no interest in that. I'm also no longer interested in your opinion.
It's ok to disagree, it's how we learn.