Probably currently, almost everyone will know the Pokémon video game franchisewhether for these or for their anime series, for their comics, for their collectible card games or for any of their wide range of derivative products. But without a doubt, the biggest milestone of this franchise has been the premiere of its first mobile video game called Pokémon Go.
What therapeutic opportunities does Pokémon Go offer us?
Pokémon Go is an application for Android and iOs operating systems in which its main attraction is its augmented reality-type gameplay, through which, using the smartphone’s camera and GPS, we can capture Pokémon while walking down the street. The psychologist Adrian Triglia He already commented in another article on several of the features of the game that has turned Pokémon Go into a kind of global fever.
It is a video game that has very simple mechanics, you simply have to look at your phone, throw Pokéballs with certain aim and tap at some moments, but the key mechanics are the collectibles, taking advantage of an already known universe such as that of Pokémon.
An unprecedented revolution
The revolution caused by the launch of this video game has been totally unexpected and unique. In just seven days, it has boosted the shares of Nintendo (the main developer of Pokémon) by 93%, which is a historic milestone in the history of video games. As a result of this, Nintendo promised to publish the results corresponding to the first fiscal year between the months of April and June on July 27, in order to announce the milestone.
On a social level, the impact of Pokémon Go has been totally surprising**, populating the streets around the world with young people (and not so young) with their smartphones to catch Pokémon**, causing large concentrations of young people in parks and monuments without causing major disturbances. Without going any further we have the example of the massive concentration of people in Central Park, solely due to the appearance of a rare Pokémon. We leave you here a link for more information about the event that occurred.
At this point, it is possible that many people may be alarmed by these events, calling this phenomenon crazy. However, it is important and interesting to analyze the uses that this video game can have as a tool to, for example, treat mental illnesses or disorders. , given its impact.
Discovering the therapeutic power of Pokémon Go
There are many accidents and curious anecdotes caused by the Pokémon Go phenomenon that have become known during these days. What people don’t know so much is that there are already cases of people suffering from a series of mental disorders who, through social networks, are exposing that this video game is helping them combat their problems, as it shows us. John M. Grohol In a post published on the blog of Psychcentral.
The truth about all this is that Pokémon Go is becoming one of the most powerful tools in the world, capable of taking millions of people out for long miles; which is much more than any other fitness app has managed to do. But Beyond the cardiovascular applications that this video game may have, it may also have a strong implication in the treatment of mental disorders. such as anxiety or depressive symptoms.
Side effects: Nintendo video game could combat depression
Depressive disorders, generally according to the DSM-V (2013), are characterized by a depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure in most activities, lack of appetite, insomnia or hypersomnia, excessive fatigue, etc.
Thanks to the contributions of numerous people on social networks, we can see how Pokémon Go, thanks to the revolution it has caused, is getting many people with depression to go out to catch Pokémon and exercisecausing their mood to improve and their appetite to increase due to the exercise performed, which causes sleep regulation and activation of the body during long walks that eliminates the “false” fatigue that these people suffer.
Pokémon Go against anxiety and social phobia
For people who suffer from anxiety, the benefits are just as surprising. The disorder derived from anxiety, most common in the non-adult population, usually presents itself in the form of social phobia, currently called social anxiety disorder according to the DSM-V (2013).
This disorder It is characterized by intense fear or anxiety during exposure of the individual who suffers from itto social situations in which there are a number of people greater than that of their most intimate circle. Which usually leads to flight and avoidance behaviors, leading the individual to confine themselves at home due to the great fear they feel.
Thanks to the strong feeling of community that has been generated among Pokémon Go players and the great feeling of inclusion that they are experiencing, the prosocial behaviors carried out among them are leading many people with social phobia problems to overcome their fears. The fact of facing their fears with the goal of capturing Pokémon and being doubly rewarded with the rewards of the video game and the great global acceptance among “trainers”, is turning the game into a very powerful tool to overcome or mitigate these difficulties.
It is still too early to establish causal relationships between Pokémon Go and people’s psyche since at the moment, this video game provides a still limited experience. However, The initial impact, as we can see, has been historic and has managed to create a movement that escapes what has been established until now in the community. gamermoving the game context from the bedroom or dining room to the streets of the city and producing, in a very short time, experiences of improvement for people with depressive or anxious mental disorders.
Since the path of Pokémon Go has only just begun, its possibilities are still unknown. However, we know that with proper use, this video game could become a turning point in terms of their use as therapeutic tools to treat mental disorders. Without a doubt, the research carried out through this movement will be very productive and interesting for the entire community of psychologists.
