Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences - The University of Auckland

Young people around the country will trial an innovative new ‘e-therapy’that uses computer gaming to teach self-help for depression, in astudy to be launched at The University of Auckland tomorrow.

The e-therapy – called ‘SPARX’ – uses an interactive 3D fantasy game to teach young people the skills they need to cope with challenges and manage their mood. The goal is to help lift young people out of depression and prevent symptoms from returning in the future.

“This is the first programme that brings together new gaming technologies with established counselling principles and specific learning techniques in this way,” says Dr Sally Merry, lead researcher for the programme. “It is designed to appeal to young people and ensure they receive self-help messages clearly.”

SPARX is based on cognitive behavioural therapy, a proven therapeutic approach that teaches more positive ways of thinking and problem solving skills. “Using computer technology that young people are comfortable with is one way of making therapy more accessible, practical, and hopefully more fun,” says Dr Merry.

Depression is common among young people and accessing help can be difficult. One in five New Zealanders will have experienced clinical depression by their eighteenth birthday. Three quarters of young people with depression never receive treatment, and those who do have often progressed to very severe depression. “We want to intervene earlier and more effectively,” says Dr Merry.

A successful pilot trial has already demonstrated the promise and popularity of e-therapy with young people. The study to be launched tomorrow will enrol up to 600 New Zealanders aged 12 to 19 years with mild to moderate depression. Half will use the new game and half will receive standard treatment through their doctor, school counsellor or other provider. Smaller studies will also assess the appropriateness of SPARX for Maori youth, same-sex attracted young people, and those in alternative education.

Results of the research are expected in late 2010 and if the trial proves successful, SPARX will be made publicly available through the Ministry of Health’s youth depression website www.thelowdown.co.nz.

SPARX was initiated by researchers, clinicians, and learning technologists at the University’s Werry Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Department of Psychological Medicine. It was developed with input from Maori, Pacific people, and other cultural groups in New Zealand.

The programme was created with the assistance of Metia Interactive. A number of actors, musicians and artists have generously donated their time and skills to the project. The work is funded by the Ministry of Health.

Ph: 09 373 7599 ext 83258 or 021 97 00 89 Email: p.curtis@auckland.ac.nz

D3Publisher to Bring Classic PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) System Games to the PLAYSTATION®Store for the PC for Download in North America

PSP System Gamers Will Now Have Access to Favorite D3P Titles Including the Original and Wildly Popular Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords®, Critically-Acclaimed Dead Head Fred® and more—no UMD Required!

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Premier publisher of interactive entertainment software, D3Publisher (D3P), will bring its classic PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system titles to gamers for download via the PLAYSTATION®Store in North America beginning this September. PSP system owners will no longer need a UMD to play critically-acclaimed PSP system titles such as WTF: work time fun™, a crazy collection of fun and addictive mini-games, the original Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords®, 2007’s multiple award-winning cult hit that blends match-three puzzle gameplay with strategy, character-building elements and a persistent storyline, Dead Head Fred®, a head-swapping, third person-action game and more.

“D3Publisher is always looking to make fun and original gaming experiences easily accessible to everyone,” said Yoji Takenaka, president and chief executive officer, North America and Europe, D3P. “We believe that making these classic PSP system titles available via digital distribution gives the games a new opportunity for discovery and the gamers a second chance at hours of enjoyment.”

D3Publisher’s Line-Up Includes:

Cube™ – Offering highly addictive puzzle solving action, Cube challenges players in single or multiplayer modes to make their way through suspended 3D worlds of platforms and mazes jam-packed with collectible items and obstacles. Cube will be available for download on September 18, 2008 for $9.99.

Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords – The genre-bending title that took the gaming community by storm at the top of 2007 incorporates strategy, role-playing elements and a persistent storyline into a match-three puzzle board setting, has received numerous awards including Best Downloadable Game at the 11th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, a Best Puzzle Game of E3 2007 Award from IGN.com and the esteemed iParenting Media Excellent Product Award for 2007. Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is designed specifically to entertain both casual and hardcore gamers-on-the-go with its deep immersion, five to fifteen minute play sessions and turn-based play style. Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords will be available for download on September 18, 2008 for $14.99.

WTF: work time fun – A crazy collection of fun and addictive mini-games, WTF drives players to perform sometimes trivial, sometimes mind-bending, but always fun jobs in pursuit of the almighty dollar. WTF will be available for download on October 2, 2008 for $9.99.

PQ: Practical Intelligence Quotient™ – Using a measuring system that was created under the guidance of Professor Masuo Koyasu of Kyoto University in Japan that determines players’ ‘Practical Intelligence Quotient’ or PQ, players move blocks, avoid walls and lasers, pull switches and maneuver with maps to reach their goal to solve more than 100 3D logic puzzles. As players solve the puzzle within a shorter time frame and with fewer moves, their PQ scores improve. PQ: Practical Intelligence Quotient will be available for download on October 2, 2008 for $9.99.

PQ2: Practical Intelligence Quotient™ 2 – A follow-up to PQ: Practical Intelligence Quotient, the critically acclaimed PQ2 calculates players’ intelligence by using the PQ scoring system as they solve more than 250 mind-bending puzzles. PQ2 will be available for download on October 16, 2008 for $14.99.

Dead Head Fred - In Dead Head Fred, players will adventure as Fred Neuman, a private detective savagely murdered and then resurrected in a bizarre scientific experiment without his memory or his head. Players will embark on a quest for vengeance as they solve their own murder by using the severed heads of enemies to battle their way through challenging but bizarre environments. Dead Head Fred will be available for download on October 16, 2008 for $14.99.

For more information on D3P’s products, please visit: www.d3publisher.com.