Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD • Hacker News Board

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#171

Post by Eumenes » Mon, Jul 22, 2024, 11:35 AM UTC

I almost spit out my coffee when I saw this. The ADHD industrial complex steams on I guess. If doctors can "prescribe" video games, can prescribe time playing outside or away from technology? I suspect that doesn't get the user on a monthly subscription plan. Soon we'll have the government subsidizing video games in the name of "digital therapeutics". Nothing says mental well-being like playing video games.

I know this is for children, but anecdotally, the number of 30 somethings I know IRL who are now discovering they have "ADHD" is comically high. Social media has truly been a disaster for the human race.

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#172

Post by viraptor » Mon, Jul 22, 2024, 11:37 AM UTC

Micanthus wrote: post #84

ykonstant wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which non-stimulant medication do you have in mind?

Likely guanfacine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guanfacine Looks really promising for people who don't like stimulants or can't take them for other reasons, slowly gaining popularity as well. Unfortunately not yet approved for adults in Europe, or I would have tried it. I'm fine with stimulants, but I'm a little wary of the effects on heart health over decades and I would like my appetite back. I also dislike that w…

The effects ramp up over a number of days, but it works for me until the day after taking it - which is great.

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#173

Post by Draiken » Mon, Jul 22, 2024, 11:37 AM UTC

fleischhauf wrote: post #100

dailykoder wrote: post #77

>The current cost for EndeavorRx is $99 for a 30 day prescription. Why is everything subscription based nowadays? Even without a subscription $99 would seem a lot to me. I guess because something something server costs and update development? Or is it just plain greed? PS: Programming is absolutely fantastic, too, when you have ADHD (an probably even if you don't have it). It also doesn't cost a dime and there is ple…

everything is subscription based, because companies have a continuous income stream (as opposed to one time large payment). With an continuous income stream you can plan better.

Come on... plan better?

It's almost always the simplest answer: they can get richer like that. I don't get why people try to rationalize greed so much. It's just that: greed.

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#174

Post by davikr » Mon, Jul 22, 2024, 11:39 AM UTC

> 73% of children reported an improvement in their attention.

What kind of study outcome is this?

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#175

Post by viraptor » Mon, Jul 22, 2024, 11:40 AM UTC

qingcharles wrote: post #56

piperswe wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Caffeine builds physical dependence easier than amphetamine, AFAIK

Is caffeine strong enough to have any serious effect on ADHD? It barely touches my concentration difficulties.

It works great once or twice if you don't ever drink it normally. It's way too easy to get used to though and it just becomes the new baseline.

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#176

Post by nusl » Mon, Jul 22, 2024, 11:42 AM UTC

davikr wrote: post #174

> 73% of children reported an improvement in their attention. What kind of study outcome is this?

The kind of study outcome that tries to get people to buy the product.

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#177

Post by resource_waste » Mon, Jul 22, 2024, 11:46 AM UTC

fxtentacle wrote: post #168

In case anyone is curious, this is the actual study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s44184-024-00075-w.pdf "AKL-T01 was linked with improvements on the Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA®) Attention Comparison Score (ACS) of 2.6 (95% CI: 2.02, 3.26; p I would read that as: Focusing on this specific video game helps you to learn how to focus on things in general. But "Mean overall compliance in the Efficacy Populat…

"Nature" used to be well respected according to academics. However, Academia isnt science, its authority.

I've now seen 2 studies that should never have been published in Nature in the last year.

I am science based, so I never really cared about what organization published, look to the data. However, if you hang out with academics, they unanimously read the journal + abstract. Its so weird. I feel like there is some sort of Dunning Kruger where I'm the idiot... But really... I know the scientific method. I know the quality of the people I'm talking to.

Happy to see you didn't just accept it like my academia pals!

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#178

Post by FrustratedMonky » Mon, Jul 22, 2024, 11:47 AM UTC

umbra07 wrote: post #10

I've been on this for about a month and a half now. The game itself isn't engaging at all. It was a struggle to get myself to actually play the game regularly, for the allotted time (30 minutes, 5 days a week). It feels like a pretty big flaw with the game - after all, one of the challenges that people with ADHD face is forcing themselves to do things they don't want to do. This game is a complete bore, and I can't i…

Could it be that the boring part is part of the treatment?

If a game was exciting and engaging, wouldn't someone with ADHD be drawn in and be focused naturally, like that isn't different from any game. But the problem with ADHD is paying attention to things in life that are boring, so forcing someone to focus on a game for some 30min/day is training them to focus on boring?

IF it was a good game, then it would just be a game. So just go play other games. But the point is to focus on something boring?

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#179

Post by pgcudahy » Mon, Jul 22, 2024, 11:49 AM UTC

This is frustrating that it's marketed as FDA approved but people won't recognize that it is regulated as a medical device, which have to only show safety, rather than as a drug, which have to show safety *and* efficacy.

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#180

Post by Micanthus » Mon, Jul 22, 2024, 11:49 AM UTC

mtlmtlmtlmtl wrote: post #118

Micanthus wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Likely guanfacine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guanfacine Looks really promising for people who don't like stimulants or can't take them for other reasons, slowly gaining popularity as well. Unfortunately not yet approved for adults in Europe, or I would have tried it. I'm fine with stimulants, but I'm a little wary of the effects on heart health over decades and I would like my appetite back. I also dislike that w…

I dunno about the EU, but guanfacine has been approved in Norway for a couple years now, and AFAIK our approval process is fairly tied to the EU one, though I can't speak to the details. There's also clonidine which has roughly the same mechanism of action as guanfacine and has been used for ADHD for a long time.

Sorry I did mean in the EU, specifically Germany. It's available for children, but for adults it's considered "off label" so it's hard to convince a doctor to prescribe it, usually they only go off label for people who have contraindications for all of the approved medicines.

It could be that the EMA has approved it for everyone, but Germany is more restrictive. It's been my experience that Germany as a society is terrified of medicine, and takes forever to adopt new drugs. They also have an attitude towards ADHD in particular that it's just for children, until somewhat recently you couldn't even be diagnosed as an adult here. Even today if you get diagnosed as an adult many doctors will demand "documentation" showing you were affected by ADHD as a child, some even want to speak with your parents.