OnTrack>An Online Role-Playing Game

Project Summary First episode psychosis is a serious mental health condition that affects youth and young adultsoften between the ages ofandThe illness is marked by hallucinationsdelusionswithdrawalpoor organization skillsand diminished cognitive and social functioningRecent research has demonstrated that programs designed to treat people experiencing early psychosis can reduce hospitalizationdecrease psychiatric symptomsimprove quality of lifeand result in better social and occupational functioningDespite this promising picturefew tools have been developed to support optimal engagement and participation in careIn response to this needthe Center for Social InnovationChas partnered with researchers at the Research Foundation for Mental HygieneIncRFMHColumbia Universityand the University of Maryland School of MedicineUMSOMto develop and test OnTrackandgt An Online Role Playing GameOnTrackandgt The Gameor OTGBased on cuttingedge practices in serious gamingOnTrackandgt The Game offers players the opportunity to experience a community that includes the playerandapos s apartmenttreatment providerandapos s officeschoolworkgymparksand a movie theater that shows videos of hope and recovery from real people who have experienced first episode psychosisInteractions with familyfriendsco workersand treatment providers allow players to simulate and rehearse real life situations in a safenon threatening environmentTo evaluate the impact of the gamethis Phase II study involves a mixed methods randomized controlled trial in which we will recruityoung people from first episode programs in New York StateParticipants will be randomized intoofconditionsOnTrackandgt The Game orRecovery VideosRVa website that includes information and videos about first episode psychosisFEPWe will use standardized measures and semi structured qualitative interviews to achieve the following aimsRefineexpandand finalize OnTrackandgt The GameBuilding on the Phase I prototypewe will improvefunctionalityexpand the play spaces and levelsadd interaction with non player charactersincludemore resources on FEPand expand the library of videos on hope and recoveryEvaluate the effectiveness of a role playing gameOnTrackandgt The Game or OTGin increasingempowermentdecreasing stigma concernsand improving treatment engagementDetermine if changes in empowerment and stigma concerns mediate the effect of OnTrackandgt The Gameon treatment engagementEarly intervention for psychosis has emerged as an effective way to improve outcomes for young peopleyet few tools exist to connect them with supporting treatment providers and to build confidence in their recoveryOnTrackandgt The Game has the potential to fill this void and to help improve outcomes for young people with psychosis as they strive to build meaningful lives in community Project Narrative OnTrackandgt An Online Role Playing Game is an interactive game designed for people who have experienced first episode psychosisThe game provides players with knowledge and skills to address stigmaunderstand psychosisand engage in treatmentThrough the gameandapos s levelszonesand interactions with friendsfamilytreatment providersand the broader communityplayers develop a greater sense of hope and the possibility of recovery