Abstract
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder associated with significant morbidity. Current treatment approaches consist of a mixture of pharmacological and psychological approaches. The emergence of digital technology, and mobile gaming applications, represents a promising novel method in potentially augmenting existing interventions for ADHD. In this review, we will map out the use of mobile gaming applications in the management of ADHD and evaluate the effectiveness of these technologies and any areas for future research. Four electronic databases were searched for relevant articles. All articles were screened for abstract and full text by two independent reviewers, and data extracted onto a common data extraction sheet. The data was narratively synthesized and reported in line with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A total of 19 studies were included. Studies mostly evaluated the effectiveness of games on male children with ADHD. Most games were focused on the treatment of ADHD, while a minority were focused on the diagnosis and monitoring of ADHD. Some of the common gaming mechanisms employed in games included having participants responding to cures, remembering details, and making associations between different entities. The studies generally showed an improvement in performance of children as they played the games, but evidence for the effectiveness of these modalities remains scarce and mixed. While it is exciting that there is such a wide variety of games available currently in the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of ADHD, many of the games lack clinical evidence to prove their effectiveness. Furthermore, most studies contain several limitations including small sample size, limited ages of participants, lack of control group, and lack of comprehensive outcomes. To promote the application of these games to clinical practice, robust clinical trials, collaboration between stakeholders and using a comprehensive set of outcome measurements is essential.
Highlights
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a global prevalence of 5% in children aged 4–17 years old (1)
Forty-seven full-text articles were assessed for their eligibility in this review with 19 studies meeting the inclusion criteria
There is an abundance of mobile game applications available for the diagnosis, management, and education of ADHD patients and their caregivers
Summary
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a global prevalence of 5% in children aged 4–17 years old (1). Adherence to medications is a problem in children with ADHD (5) To address these issues, digital therapeutics has presented itself as a possible solution. High-quality computer games have been shown to improve cognitive functioning, including memory, concentration, and behaviors (6). These games are most often displayed on a personal computer (PC) or a desktop but can be displayed on other modalities such as mobile phones, tablets, video console, or 3D device (7)
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