OnTrack>An Online Role-Playing Game: A Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grant

Center for Social Innovation, Massachusetts

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 1

Conditions: Schizophrenia; Psychosis; Schizoaffective Disorder

Treatments: Behavioral: Behavioral/Attitudinal OnTrack Role-Playing Game

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02415764

1R43MH105013-01

Details and patient eligibility

About

Our team will develop a prototype game (OnTrack>The Game) in which users play the role of a person who has experienced First Episode Psychosis and move through animated role-playing scenarios, learning practical tips for engaging in care, playing mini-games to develop self- advocacy skills, and seeing stories of hope and recovery (brief video vignettes). The game is designed in an engaging comic book style in which the player is presented with realistic situations designed to promote engagement and the development of trusting relationships.

Following development of the prototype, the investigators will conduct a pilot study to develop preliminary data to determine feasibility of a large-scale Phase 2 effectiveness study. This pilot study aims to demonstrate proof of concept for OnTrack>The Game. The investigators will recruit a sample of patients/consumers (n=25) from OnTrackNY sites that offer services for those experiencing their first psychotic episode. Quantitative data will be collected through baseline and follow up surveys that utilize instruments to measure knowledge and attitudes about recovery, perceptions of stigma, feelings of empowerment and sense of hopefulness. The investigators will also conduct semi-structured interviews with a subset of participants to explore engagement in treatment and attitudes toward the game.

Full description

In light of research supporting early first episode psychosis (FEP) intervention models as well as the efficacy of video gaming to engage young people with FEP in treatment, the connection between the two needs to be explored. A gaming tool for first-episode psychosis has the potential to improve patient care; and, decrease stigma associated with schizophrenia.

Hypothesis:

The investigators hypothesize that Phase 1 of this study will demonstrate that the videogame is comprehensible, engaging and easy to maneuver. The investigators hypothesize that the results from the pilot study will suggest that this technologically innovative tool has potential to enhance positive outcomes of research-tested interventions, such as OnTrackNY, for individuals with FEP.

Approach:

Our team will develop a prototype game (OnTrack>The Game) in which users play the role of a person who has experienced FEP and move through animated role-playing scenarios, learning practical tips for engaging in care, playing mini-games to develop self- advocacy skills, and seeing stories of hope and recovery (brief video vignettes). The game is designed in an engaging comic book style in which the player is presented with realistic situations designed to promote engagement and the development of trusting relationships.

Following development of the prototype, the investigators will conduct a pilot study to develop preliminary data to determine feasibility of a large-scale Phase 2 effectiveness study. This pilot study aims to demonstrate proof of concept for OnTrack>The Game. The investigators will recruit a sample of patients/consumers (n=25) from OnTrackNY sites that offer services for those experiencing their first psychotic episode. Quantitative data will be collected through baseline and follow up surveys that utilize instruments to measure knowledge and attitudes about recovery, perceptions of stigma, feelings of empowerment and sense of hopefulness. The investigators will also conduct semi-structured interviews with a subset of participants to explore engagement in treatment and attitudes toward the game.

Enrollment: 19 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 30 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria (Consumers):

• 18 - 30 years of age;
• have experienced a first episode of psychosis;
• have been referred to OnTrack New York in the past 12 months;
• are willing to complete study requirements; and
• provides informed consent

Exclusion Criteria (Consumers):

• non-English speaker;
• not clinically stable (at risk of self harming or others, and/or experiencing elevated symptoms) and incapable of providing informed consent

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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19 participants in 1 patient group

Pilot test Intervention OnTrack>The Game

Other group

Description:

Consumers who have been referred to OnTrackNY sites at Washington Heights Community Service or Mental Health Association Westchester in the past six months will be recruited to participate in a product evaluation of OnTrack\>The Game. Intervention: This is a behavioral/attitudinal intervention, using OnTrack\>The Game, which will include each participant sitting down at a computer for approximately one hour (over the course of one week) to complete the prototype game. Users will take on the role of a person who has experienced first-episode psychosis and moves through animated role-playing scenarios, learn practical tips for engaging in care, play mini-games to develop self-advocacy skills, and view stories of hope and recovery (brief video vignettes).

Treatment:

Behavioral: Behavioral/Attitudinal OnTrack Role-Playing Game