In the Netherlands, up to 23% of adolescents are affected by anxiety disorders and for younger children estimates range from 5-20% (Verhulst, van der Ende, Ferdinand, & Kasius, 1997; Bögels, 2007). Childhood anxiety is associated with a host of future problems, such as substance abuse, academic failure, and even suicidal behaviour (Woodward & Fergusson, 2001). The impact is enormous, both on a personal level and in terms of the associated societal costs (Greenberg, et al., 1999; RIVM, 2013). Clearly, effective prevention and treatment programs are urgently mandated but despite evidence-based interventions being readily available, their outcomes are often disappointing and variable (Reynolds, Wilson, Austin, & Hooper, 2012). Existing one-size-fits-all interventions are at best moderately effective long-term, and most importantly, not tailored to differences in individual responsiveness (James, James, Cowdrey, Soler, & Choke, 2013; Cartwright, Hatton, Roberts, Chitsabesan, Fothergill, & Harrington, 2004). This project’s aim is to contribute to a new approach to the prevention and treatment of anxiety in children by developing new methodology to uncover and tailor interventions to individual response patterns, using a unique biofeedback virtual reality game (DEEP). DEEP targets key developmental factors associated with anxiety and consists of an immersive virtual underwater world, which players can explore freely, controlling their movements through breathing. We aim to uncover individual profiles of behavioural change and tailor DEEP to these profiles in real-time, combining dynamical systems theory and machine learning for automated classification of individual in-game behaviour.
Gaming Against Anxiety: New Methodology for Personalized Game Interventions
Anxiety disorders are among the most common psychopathologies in children. This project investigates the effects of a biofeedback virtual reality game (DEEP) on breathing and anxiety-related symptoms in anxious children and develops new algorithms to detect changes in the player’s behavior during the game. The aim is to enable game interventions that are personalized to each individual child.
Children with anxiety problems
feels 'great' after playing DEEP
VR-researchers getting nauseated in VR
Publications
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Visualization, Self-Efficacy, and Locus of Control in a Virtual Reality Biofeedback Video Game for Anxiety Regulation
Weerdmeester, J., van Rooij, M. M. J.W., & Granic, I. (2022). Visualization, Self-Efficacy, and Locus of Control in a Virtual Reality Biofeedback Video Game for Anxiety Regulation. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 25 (6).doi: 10.1089/cyber.2022.0030
Author: Joanneke Weerdmeester
Upload date: 06-10-2022
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Take a DEEP Breath: Exploring the Potential of Game-based Biofeedback Interventions for Anxiety Regulations [Doctoral Dissertation]
J.W. Weerdmeester (2021). Take a DEEP Breath: Exploring the Potential of Game-based Biofeedback Interventions for Anxiety Regulations. Doctoral Thesis. Radboud University.
Author: Joanneke Weerdmeester
Upload date: 11-21-2021
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A Randomized Controlled Trial Assessing the Efficacy of a Virtual Reality Biofeedback Video Game: Anxiety Outcomes and Appraisal Processes
Weerdmeester, J., van Rooij, M. M.J.W., Maciejewski, D. F., Engels, R. C.M.E, & Granic, I. (2021). A Randomized Controlled Trial Assessing the Efficacy of a Virtual Reality Biofeedback Video Game: Anxiety Outcomes and Appraisal Processes. Technology, Mind, and Behavior. doi: 10.1037/tmb0000028
Author: Joanneke Weerdmeester
Upload date: 08-05-2021
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Efficacy of a Virtual Reality Biofeedback Game (DEEP) to Reduce Anxiety and Disruptive Classroom Behavior: Single-Case Study
Bossenbroek, R., Wols, A., Weerdmeester, J., Lichtwarck-Aschoff, A., Granic, I., & van Rooij, M. (2020). JMIR Mental Health, 7(3), e16066. http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/16066
Author: Aniek Wols
Upload date: 03-24-2020
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Exploring the Role of Self-efficacy in Biofeedback Video Games
Weerdmeester, J., van Rooij, M., Harris, O., Smit, N., Engels, R. C., & Granic, I. (2017, October). In Extended Abstracts Publication of the Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play (pp. 453-461). ACM.
Author: Joanneke Weerdmeester
Upload date: 10-15-2017
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DEEP: A Biofeedback Virtual Reality Game for Children At-risk for Anxiety
van Rooij, M., Lobel, A., Harris, O., Smit, N., & Granic, I. (2016). CHI'16 Extended Abstracts, May 07-12, 2016, San Jose, CA, USA
Author: Marieke van Rooij
Upload date: 05-07-2016
Project team
Assistant prof. and data geek at the GEMH lab, dynamical modelling, personalisation, wants to put the I back into AI, news junkie, cat lover.
Assistant Professor
Professor and Chair of the Developmental Psychopathology department in the Behavioural Science Institute; writer; voracious podcast consumer; mother of two upstanding little gamers
Professor at McMaster's University & Co-founder of PlayNice Interactive
User Research Analyst at Ubisoft Montréal. My favorite games tell emotionally rich stories and challenge me to think differently
User Research Analyst
Owen Harris
Game Designer, Teacher & Human
Niki Smit
Game Designer & Artist
Behavioural scientist, lecturer, consultant, gamer, dungeon master, language enthusiast, and lover of all things geeky.
Freelance Consultant
Sources
All sources
- Verhulst, F. C., van der Ende, J., Ferdinand, R. F., & Kasius, M. C. (1997). De prevalentie van psychiatrische stoornissen bij Nederlandse adolescenten. Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde, 141, 777-781.
- Bögels, S. M. (2007). Behandeling van angststoornissen bij kinderen en adolescenten: Met het cognitief- gedragstherapeutisch protocol Denken+ Doen= Durven. Bohn Stafleu van Loghum.
- Woodward, L. J., & Fergusson, D. M. (2001). Life course outcomes of young people with anxiety disorders in adolescence. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 40, 1086-1093.
- Greenberg, P. E., Sisitsky, T., Kessler, R. C., Finkelstein, S. N., Berndt, E. R., Davidson, J. R., ... & Fyer, A. J. (1999). The economic burden of anxiety disorders in the 1990s. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 60, 427-435.
- RIVM (2013). Kosten van ziekten database 2013. Retrieved from https://kostenvanziektentool.volksgezondheidenzorg.info/tool/nederlands/?ref=kvz_v2l1b1p4r 0c3i0t1j0o3y6a- 1g0d31s54f0z0w2
- James, A. C., James, G., Cowdrey, F. A., Soler, A., & Choke, A. (2013). Cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 6.
- Cartwright‐Hatton, S., Roberts, C., Chitsabesan, P., Fothergill, C., & Harrington, R. (2004). Systematic review of the efficacy of cognitive behaviour therapies for childhood and adolescent anxiety disorders. British journal of clinical psychology, 43, 421-436.