The Impact of Playing Tetris on Migrants' Mental Health

Conditions studied

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Anxiety Symptoms, Depression Symptoms

About this study

This study examines if playing Tetris prevents the development of Post-traumatic stress disorder or related anxiety and depressive symptoms. The investigators recruit 300 participants in total in Greece and in the Netherlands. The participants are immigrants who have applied for asylum at any point in the past. The participants are asked to answer three questionnaires (on Post-traumatic stress disorder, related anxiety and depressive symptoms, and post-migration living difficulties) on a recurring basis - once every 4 weeks, 12 times in total. Half of the participants (treatment group) are randomly selected to play Tetris after completing the questionnaires. Participants in the treatment group are instructed to play Tetris for at least 15 minutes while trying to remember bad things that recently happened to them. Tetris is administered at three instances and participants in the treatment group are encouraged to play Tetris in case of experiencing any traumatic events or having any intrusive memories during the course of the study.

Interventions

• Behavioral: Tetris — Randomly selected participants (migrants) are asked to play Tetris for at least 15 minutes on several occasions. These participants are asked while playing Tetris to try and remember bad events that recently happened to them. The participants play the classic version of the Tetris game directly on their mobile phone.
• Other: No intervention — Participants do not receive any intervention.

Primary outcomes

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (From enrolment to the end of the study (40 weeks))
• Anxiety and depression symptoms (From enrolment to the end of the study (40 weeks))

Eligibility information

Study locations

• Upinion (online), The Hague, NL 2511 CJ Greece
• Upinion/the humanity Hub, The Hague, NL 2511 CJ Netherlands