Using video games to reduce anxiety in adolescents
Official title: Evaluating the Effect of Gamified Cognitive Training and of Casual Videogame Play on Anxiety in Adolescents: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
Run by School of Health Sciences Geneva · NCT05923944 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing if playing action video games can help reduce anxiety in teenagers aged 11-15 by distracting them and improving their emotional control.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 11 Years to 15 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 150 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | School of Health Sciences Geneva Academic / other |
| Locations | 3 sites (Miami, Florida and 2 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 1, 2024 |
| Main results expected | October 2027 |
| Study ends | October 2027 |
| Registry record updated | September 18, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT05923944 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates for this study are adolescents aged 11-15 years who exhibit high levels of anxiety.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with severe mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder, psychosis, or autism spectrum disorder may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This study investigates the potential of video games as a digital intervention to alleviate anxiety in adolescents aged 11-15 years. It compares the effects of action video games, which may enhance attentional control, against casual games and a no-training control group. By assessing changes in anxiety levels, the study aims to determine the effectiveness of these gaming interventions in distracting from anxiety-related thoughts and improving emotional regulation. Participants must have access to a computer and meet specific anxiety criteria to be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a novel, engaging method for reducing anxiety in adolescents.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results in using video games for anxiety reduction, suggesting this approach may be effective.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Adolescents aged 11-15 years 2. Elevated anxiety symptoms, defined as a total score of ≥15 on the 41-item parent-report version of the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED). 3. Access to a computer (at least Windows 7 or Mac OSX) at home and a reliable internet connection Exclusion Criteria: 1. DSM diagnoses of Bipolar, Psychosis, Autism Spectrum Disorder, present or past. 2. Neurological injury (i.e. head injury) 3. Currently enrolled in another cognitive training intervention
Where it's running
-
Center for Children and Families
Miami, Florida, United States Recruiting -
University of Haifa
Haifa, Israel Recruiting -
University of Geneva
Geneva, Canton of Geneva, Switzerland Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Daphné Bavelier, Professor — University of Geneva, Switzerland
- Study coordinator: Naïma Gradi, PhD Student
- Email: naima.gradi@unige.ch
- Phone: +33 6 31 85 49 96
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Single-session intervention to change ambiguity aversion
This trial tests whether one brief intervention can change how adults with intolerance of uncertainty and anxiety make ambiguous decisions and how their brains respond.
-
Investigating how CBT affects brain circuits in anxiety
This study is trying to see how Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) changes brain activity in people with anxiety to help improve treatment options.
-
See if preoperative anxiety affects recovery after major digestive cancer surgery
This study tests whether anxiety before surgery is linked to more complications after major digestive cancer operations in French-speaking adults.
-
Mindful Smartphone Use: A Mindfulness-Based Program for Teens with Sleep and Mood Challenges
This study tests Mindwire, a mindfulness-based program, to see if it helps teens with problematic phone use who also have depression or anxiety.
-
Tele-based wellbeing centres for women's mental health in Bangladesh
A randomized trial tests whether tele-counselling for depression and anxiety in Bangladeshi women is as effective as in-person counselling.
-
Buzzy Bee for Pain and Anxiety Control During Pediatric Dental Local Anesthesia
This study tests whether the Buzzy Bee device, with cold and vibration, reduces pain and anxiety during a dental injection in kids aged 5-7 compared with standard distraction.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.