Kinect Adventures versus physical exercise on depressive symptoms of older adults: A pilot study

Abstract Introduction: Depressive and anxiety disorders are considered the main cause of emotional suffering and decrease of quality of life among older adults. It has been suggested that the practice of physical exercise can be a treatment option for anxiety and depression. Alternative approaches such serious games show promise for reducing depression symptoms. Objective: To compare the effect of virtual reality, in the form of commercially available interactive Kinect Adventures video games, compared to a standard physical exercise program on depressive symptoms of older adults. Method: This is a pilot study, parallel group, single-blind randomized controlled pilot trial that recruited two intervention groups: Interactive Video Game Kinect Adventures (IVG, n=8) versus usual physical exercise program (PEP, n=6). The two groups completed a seven week program with a total of fourteen 60-minute sessions divided into two sessions a week. The IVG completed individual training sessions using the Microsoft Xbox Kinect Adventures games and the PEP performed a group exercise program. Depression symptoms were measured using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). This measure was assessed pre-intervention, post intervention and at 30-day follow-up. Results: There was a significant effect of assessment without group effect or interaction between factors, in the GDS-15 (RM-ANOVA, P引言：抑郁与焦虑障碍是导致老年人产生情绪痛苦、生活质量下降的主要诱因。已有研究证实，体育锻炼可作为焦虑与抑郁的治疗方案；而诸如严肃游戏（Serious Games）这类替代疗法，在缓解抑郁症状方面颇具应用前景。研究目的：对比以商用交互式《Kinect Adventures》视频游戏为载体的虚拟现实疗法，与常规体育锻炼方案对老年人抑郁症状的改善效果。研究方法：本研究为平行组单盲随机对照预试验，共纳入两个干预组：交互式视频游戏组（IVG，n=8）与常规体育锻炼组（PEP，n=6）。两组均完成为期7周的干预计划，总计14次、每次60分钟的训练，每周开展2次训练。其中IVG组采用微软（Microsoft）Xbox平台的《Kinect Adventures》游戏完成单人训练，PEP组则实施团体体育锻炼方案。采用老年抑郁量表（GDS-15）评估抑郁症状，分别于干预前、干预后及30天随访时进行测评。研究结果：针对GDS-15量表的重复测量方差分析（RM-ANOVA）结果显示，测评时间存在显著主效应，但未发现组间效应或因素间交互作用（P