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Evo, the First Prescription-Strength Video Game?

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Re: Evo, the First Prescription-Strength Video Game?

#2
I've tried to find more information on what this game actually does, and how it treats ADHD / autism. I looked at a few articles and the Akili website, but details are pretty spare.

Does anyone have some additional information of how this video game plans to treat autism / ADHD?

Re: Evo, the First Prescription-Strength Video Game?

#3
Is someone trying to market mobile gaming as a therapeutic?

It looks like it does the same thing than other click-fest-attention-grabbing games on mobile OS. The claim that as you progress you need to "multitask" more, seems familiar. They maybe adding their on twist on it. So, Minion Rush with a metric based difficulty generator?

Re: Evo, the First Prescription-Strength Video Game?

#4
When a video game is backed by clinical trials, you could charge a ton of money for it. Like $100s per month that insurance plans will negotiate down to fewer $100s, but still 100s, per month. At least for a few years.

The difference is that games, unlike drugs, are not mechanistically patentable (correct me if wrong please). Someone could create a close-enough lookalike, and sell it for $1. And if it really works, which I sort of don't believe, then it would improve access to real therapy. A lookalike would not have some of their proprietary evaluation system based on ever-questionable psychology metrics, but I bet a few hours with the game would show the gist of it: "You're paying attention! High score!" "You're old and also can't rearrange the blocks like you used to," -->poor executive function and memory, maybe dementia, etc

And yet given the ubiquity of the standard cognitive battery tests like MMSE and Minicog, I do question whether any therapist would ever recommend a substitute. The difference is these tests are often printed out on paper and royalties are not paid to the owners, whereas a tighly controlled Saas model would really cut down on illegal distribution and encourage alternatives.

Re: Evo, the First Prescription-Strength Video Game?

#6
post #3

Is someone trying to market mobile gaming as a therapeutic? It looks like it does the same thing than other click-fest-attention-grabbing games on mobile OS. The claim that as you progress you need to "multitask" more, seems familiar. They maybe adding their on twist on it. So, Minion Rush with a metric based difficulty generator?

from the sound of it it is based off this[1] research about brain multitasking (where tasks require both hand eye coordination and higher reasoning functions)

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlrOSbRzakE

Re: Evo, the First Prescription-Strength Video Game?

#9
post #8

If a game is "prescribed" is it illegal to use without a perception?

You can be prescribed to take over-the-counter drugs, like "take two ibuprofen with each meal for 4 days; if symptoms persist, schedule another appointment". "Prescribed" doesn't necessarily mean "prescription-ONLY".

Re: Evo, the First Prescription-Strength Video Game?

#10
post #5

If they want to fight ADHD, I have a feeling meditation would be a better treatment. (Too bad you can't make money off it.) And this is coming from a HUGE fan of games (17 days till Fallout 4, OMG). http://www.feelguide.com/2014/11/19/harvard-unveils-mri-stud...

2010: not enough evidence, and any available evidence was low quality. http://www.cochrane.org/CD006507/BEHAV_meditation-therapies-...

It seems like it could be useful, so it's a shame either Cochrane haven't repeated their analysis or that other researchers aren't doing good quality research on meditation.

And you can make money off it. You give it a brand and sell DVDs. That brand then gets assessed, and promoted. Other people who come along and rip off the brand are not being recommended.

Current English advice for ADHD is here: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg72

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