Computer Games Better Than Medication in Treating Elderly Depression

2 hours a week? I guess I&#x27;m set for a few hundred years with of mental work.<p>Although if I had to guess this would probably be more related to elderly people doing mental work that stimulates new connections. If a young person today who had been playing games their whole life were to try it when they were old it probably wouldn&#x27;t have the same effect because they would be so used to those mental stimulation.<p>Just a thought from a person who knows nothing about this field.

You would expect this, because SSRIs perform no better than placebo except in cases of extreme depression.<p><a href="http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=185157" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;jama.jamanetwork.com&#x2F;article.aspx?articleid=185157</a>

&quot;In a study of 11 older patients&quot;<p>Is that a big enough sample to draw any conclusions?

Original article: <a href="http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2014/140805/ncomms5579/full/ncomms5579.html" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.nature.com&#x2F;ncomms&#x2F;2014&#x2F;140805&#x2F;ncomms5579&#x2F;full&#x2F;nco...</a><p>It seems like they are currently preparing a study comparing the efficacy of computer games and general computer work with regard to reducing elderly depression: <a href="http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01979289" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;clinicaltrials.gov&#x2F;show&#x2F;NCT01979289</a>

Why should a medication which is designed to lift the symptoms but has nothing to do with the causes be better than a simplest CBT, even if it is mere distraction?

I remember doing nothing but playing computer games in my deepest depression states.

SPARX is a game from New Zealand designed to teach basic CBT techniques to teens.<p><a href="http://www.beckinstituteblog.org/2012/04/a-computerized-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-intervention-for-adolescents/" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.beckinstituteblog.org&#x2F;2012&#x2F;04&#x2F;a-computerized-cogn...</a><p>There&#x27;s a niche in the market.

I&#x27;d be interested to know what their lifestyle is, are they spending the majority of their lives watching insipid TV? (That would certainly be enough to depress me...)

there&#x27;s also this research about casual games seducing depression and anxiety:<p><a href="http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/123495/Study_Finds_Casual_Games_Reduce_Depression_Anxiety_Symptoms.php" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.gamasutra.com&#x2F;view&#x2F;news&#x2F;123495&#x2F;Study_Finds_Casual...</a><p>The key question is why:is it only the distraction ,because its known that distraction is helpful against depression , or is also something else ? and how best is to design such games ?

Oh boy.. can&#x27;t wait till my 12 yrs old kid hears about this! * So much for my &quot;stop playing games all day long&quot; ranting..

Good to know that when I&#x27;m old, I&#x27;ll be spending my time gaming again :)<p>APM will be less I guess, but so will that of my opponents.

Oncoming depression, burnout and stress. Let me play for 2 days and I&#x27;m good as new.

Outstanding potential for technology! Who says all these games are just mental candy?