For children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, digital interventions that incorporate video games may help improve focus, according to a study published in The Lancet Digital Health.
Researchers examined data from a controlled trial of 348 pediatric patients, between the ages of 1 and 12 years, with confirmed attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Of the 348 patients, 180 were randomly assigned to receive a digital intervention, which involved a video game that patients could play at home for 25 minutes per day, five days per week for a month. The study period extended from July 15, 2016, to Nov. 30, 2017.
Patients in the video game group had improved attention performance scores compared to the patients who were not given the video game.
While there were no serious adverse events, a small fraction of patients experienced minimal adverse events from the video game intervention, including frustration (3 percent) and headaches (2 percent).