By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on March 19, 2014

New research suggests playing a science-based mobile gaming app for 25 minutes can reduce anxiety in stressed individuals.

Investigators believe the study shows that gamifying is a scientifically supported intervention that could offer measurable mental health and behavioral benefits for people with relatively high levels of anxiety.

The study is published in Clinical Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

Millions of people suffering from psychological distress fail to seek or receive mental health services. A key factor here is that many evidence-based treatments are burdensome time consuming, expensive, difficult to access, and perceived as stigmatizing, said lead researcher Tracy Dennis, Ph.D., of Hunter College in New York.

Given this concerning disparity between need and accessibility of services, it is crucial for psychological researchers to develop alternative treatment delivery systems that are more affordable, accessible, and engaging.

Thats where the mobile app comes in.

The game is based on an emerging cognitive treatment for anxiety called attention-bias modification training (ABMT). Essentially, this treatment involves training patients to ignore a threatening stimulus (such as an angry face) and to focus instead on a non-threatening stimulus (such as a neutral or happy face).

This type of training has been shown to reduce anxiety and stress among people suffering from high anxiety.

In the study, about 75 participants who all scored relatively high on an anxiety survey were required to follow two characters around on the screen, tracing their paths as quickly and accurately as possible.

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New App Can Ease Anxiety By Gaming