This paper is in the following e-collection/theme issue:

Games and Gamification for Health (777) Serious Games for Health and Medicine (802) Anxiety and Stress Disorders (1330) Special Issue on Computing and Mental Health (2018) (33) Gamification (155)

Published on in Vol 21, No 1 (2019): January

Preprints (earlier versions) of this paper are available at https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/10133, first published .
Improving the Efficacy of Cognitive Training for Digital Mental Health Interventions Through Avatar Customization: Crowdsourced Quasi-Experimental Study

Improving the Efficacy of Cognitive Training for Digital Mental Health Interventions Through Avatar Customization: Crowdsourced Quasi-Experimental Study

Improving the Efficacy of Cognitive Training for Digital Mental Health Interventions Through Avatar Customization: Crowdsourced Quasi-Experimental Study

Authors of this article:

Max Valentin Birk1 Author Orcid Image ;   Regan Lee Mandryk1 Author Orcid Image
Article Authors Cited by (51) Tweetations (22) Metrics

Journals

  1. Stawarz K, Preist C, Tallon D, Wiles N, Kessler D, Turner K, Shafran R, Coyle D. Design Considerations for the Integrated Delivery of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression: User-Centered Design Study. JMIR Mental Health 2020;7(9):e15972 View
  2. Zahabi M, Abdul Razak A. Adaptive virtual reality-based training: a systematic literature review and framework. Virtual Reality 2020;24(4):725 View
  3. van der Meulen H, McCashin D, O'Reilly G, Coyle D. Using Computer Games to Support Mental Health Interventions: Naturalistic Deployment Study. JMIR Mental Health 2019;6(5):e12430 View
  4. Drissi N, Ouhbi S, Janati Idrissi M, Fernandez-Luque L, Ghogho M. Connected Mental Health: Systematic Mapping Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research 2020;22(8):e19950 View
  5. Völter C, Stöckmann C, Schirmer C, Dazert S. Tablet-Based Telerehabilitation Versus Conventional Face-to-Face Rehabilitation After Cochlear Implantation: Prospective Intervention Pilot Study. JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies 2021;8(1):e20405 View
  6. Sanatkar S, Baldwin P, Huckvale K, Christensen H, Harvey S. e-Mental Health Program Usage Patterns in Randomized Controlled Trials and in the General Public to Inform External Validity Considerations: Sample Groupings Using Cluster Analyses. Journal of Medical Internet Research 2021;23(3):e18348 View
  7. Kocur M, Dechant M, Wolff C, Nothdurfter C, Wetter T, Rupprecht R, Shiban Y. Computer-Assisted Avatar-Based Treatment for Dysfunctional Beliefs in Depressive Inpatients: A Pilot Study. Frontiers in Psychiatry 2021;12 View
  8. Moghimi E, Knyahnytska Y, Omrani M, Nikjoo N, Stephenson C, Layzell G, Frederic Simpson A, Alavi N. Benefits of Digital Mental Health Care Interventions for Correctional Workers and Other Public Safety Personnel: A Narrative Review. Frontiers in Psychiatry 2022;13 View
  9. Wang L, Christensen J, Smith B, Gillig T, Jeong D, Liu M, Appleby P, Read S, Miller L. User-Agent Bond in Generalizable Environments: Long-Term Risk-Reduction via Nudged Virtual Choices. Frontiers in Psychology 2021;12 View
  10. Taylor M, Thomas E, Vitangcol K, Marx W, Campbell K, Caffery L, Haydon H, Smith A, Kelly J. Digital health experiences reported in chronic disease management: An umbrella review of qualitative studies. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare 2022;28(10):705 View
  11. Böffel C, Würger S, Müsseler J, Schlittmeier S. Character Customization With Cosmetic Microtransactions in Games: Subjective Experience and Objective Performance. Frontiers in Psychology 2022;12 View
  12. Ramadurai R, Beckham E, McHugh R, Björgvinsson T, Beard C. Operationalizing Engagement With an Interpretation Bias Smartphone App Intervention: Case Series. JMIR Mental Health 2022;9(8):e33545 View
  13. Van Assche E, Antoni Ramos-Quiroga J, Pariante C, Sforzini L, Young A, Flossbach Y, Gold S, Hoogendijk W, Baune B, Maron E. Digital tools for the assessment of pharmacological treatment for depressive disorder: State of the art. European Neuropsychopharmacology 2022;60:100 View
  14. Qiu S, Bozzon A, Birk M, Gadiraju U. Using Worker Avatars to Improve Microtask Crowdsourcing. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction 2021;5(CSCW2):1 View
  15. Phoo N, Reid A, Lobo R, Davies M, Vujcich D. A Web-Based Audio Computer-Assisted Self-interview Application With Illustrated Pictures to Administer a Hepatitis B Survey Among a Myanmar-Born Community in Perth, Australia: Development and User Acceptance Study. JMIR Formative Research 2023;7:e37358 View
  16. Friehs M, Schäfer S, Frings C. The (Gami)fictional Ego-Center: Projecting the Location of the Self Into an Avatar. Frontiers in Psychology 2022;13 View
  17. Dechant M, Birk M, Shiban Y, Schnell K, Mandryk R. How Avatar Customization Affects Fear in a Game-based Digital Exposure Task for Social Anxiety. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction 2021;5(CHI PLAY):1 View
  18. Takano M, Taka F. Fancy avatar identification and behaviors in the virtual world: Preceding avatar customization and succeeding communication. Computers in Human Behavior Reports 2022;6:100176 View
  19. Six S, Byrne K, Aly H, Harris M. The Effect of Mental Health App Customization on Depressive Symptoms in College Students: Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Mental Health 2022;9(8):e39516 View
  20. Saleem M, Kühne L, De Santis K, Christianson L, Brand T, Busse H. Understanding Engagement Strategies in Digital Interventions for Mental Health Promotion: Scoping Review. JMIR Mental Health 2021;8(12):e30000 View
  21. Friehs M, Dechant M, Schäfer S, Mandryk R. More than skin deep: about the influence of self-relevant avatars on inhibitory control. Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications 2022;7(1) View
  22. Wu S, Xu L, Dai Z, Pan Y. Factors Affecting Avatar Customization Behavior in Virtual Environments. Electronics 2023;12(10):2286 View
  23. Nguyen A, Bavelier D. Play in video games. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 2023;153:105386 View
  24. Veras M, Labbé D, Furlano J, Zakus D, Rutherford D, Pendergast B, Kairy D. A framework for equitable virtual rehabilitation in the metaverse era: challenges and opportunities. Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences 2023;4 View
  25. Fey M, Peperkorn N, Borchert T, Meyer M, Raacke J, Shiban Y. Computer-Assisted Avatar-Based Treatment for Dysfunctional Beliefs and Eating-Disorder Symptomatology: A Randomized Control Pilot Study. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy 2023;17(2):251 View
  26. Davis D, Alexanian S. Role-playing recovery in social virtual worlds: Adult use of child avatars as PTSD therapy. Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine Update 2024;5:100129 View
  27. Mulvaney P, Rooney B, Friehs M, Leader J. Social VR design features and experiential outcomes: narrative review and relationship map for dyadic agent conversations. Virtual Reality 2024;28(1) View
  28. Boucher E, Raiker J. Engagement and retention in digital mental health interventions: a narrative review. BMC Digital Health 2024;2(1) View
  29. Zhong T, Tian H, Wen X, Ma D, Cui H, Zhang L, Zhu X, Wang Y, Chen L. Perspectives of persons with mild cognitive impairment, caregivers and healthcare professionals on computer-assisted cognitive training: A multi-perspective qualitative study. Geriatric Nursing 2025;61:560 View
  30. Moriuchi E. Deploying artificial intelligence for healthcare: An empirical study on the patients' usage of health care service and AI's anthropomorphic structure form. Technological Forecasting and Social Change 2025;213:124004 View
  31. Hestevik C, Varsi C, Østerås N, Tveter A, Skandsen J, Eik H. Perspectives on and Experiences With Remote Monitoring and Patient-Initiated Care Among Norwegian Patients With Axial Spondyloarthritis: Qualitative Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research 2025;27:e63569 View
  32. Lim C, Leith A, Ratan R, Foxman M, Bouzek D. Meeting needs: How social interaction anxiety, zoom fatigue, relatedness, and demographics predict virtual meeting feature preferences. Computers in Human Behavior Reports 2025;18:100673 View
  33. Zeiler M, Vögl S, Prinz U, Werner N, Wagner G, Karwautz A, Zeller N, Ackermann L, Waldherr K. Game Design, Effectiveness, and Implementation of Serious Games Promoting Aspects of Mental Health Literacy Among Children and Adolescents: Systematic Review. JMIR Mental Health 2025;12:e67418 View
  34. Wanniarachchi V, Greenhalgh C, Choi A, Warren J. Personalization variables in digital mental health interventions for depression and anxiety in adolescents and youth: a scoping review. Frontiers in Digital Health 2025;7 View
  35. Peperkorn N, Ohse J, Fox J, Kuhlencord M, Grevenhaus C, Krutzki J, Witthöft M, Shiban Y. Effects of change in dysfunctional beliefs in avatar-based cognitive therapy for depressive symptoms: a randomized parallel trial. Scientific Reports 2025;15(1) View
  36. Markovitch B, Kamps J, Markopoulos P, Birk M. Do cognitive assessment games leave infrequent video game players behind? Evaluating frequent and infrequent players’ gaming experience and data quality. Computers in Human Behavior 2025;172:108720 View
  37. Han R, Lee B, Pike M, Towey D, Yao Y, Wang Y, Chung W. Sproutfit: an immersive seed-planting virtual reality game to enhance patient motivation for performing exercises for the prevention of venous thromboembolism through loss and avoidance gamification. Virtual Reality 2025;29(3) View

Books/Policy Documents

  1. Gonzaga A, Lamas M. Handbook of Research on Promoting Economic and Social Development Through Serious Games. View
  2. Ashrafi N, Neuhaus V, Vona F, Peperkorn N, Shiban Y, Voigt-Antons J. Human-Computer Interaction. View
  3. Lodha P, Makhija S, DeSousa A. Digital Healthcare in Asia and Gulf Region for Healthy Aging and More Inclusive Societies. View
  4. . Distance Counseling and Supervision. View

Conference Proceedings

  1. Alexandrovsky D, Friehs M, Birk M, Yates R, Mandryk R. Proceedings of the Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play. Game Dynamics that Support Snacking, not Feasting View
  2. Wiley K, Vedress S, Mandryk R. Proceedings of the 2020 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. How Points and Theme Affect Performance and Experience in a Gamified Cognitive Task View
  3. Tasnim R, Eishita F. 2020 IEEE 8th International Conference on Serious Games and Applications for Health (SeGAH). MoM An Effort to Comprising CBT in Digital Gaming View
  4. Goodman-Vincent E, Roy M, Khalili-Mahani N. Extended Abstracts of the 2020 Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play. Affective Game Planning for Playing the Pain View
  5. Alexandrovsky D, Friehs M, Grittner J, Putze S, Birk M, Malaka R, Mandryk R. Proceedings of the 2021 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Serious Snacking: A Survival Analysis of how Snacking Mechanics Affect Attrition in a Mobile Serious Game View
  6. Johannes Dechant M, Frommel J, Mandryk R. Proceedings of the 2021 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Assessing Social Anxiety Through Digital Biomarkers Embedded in a Gaming Task View
  7. Johnson-Glenberg M, Kosa M, Balanzat D, Zavala R, Xavier A, Rayan J, Taylor H, Bartolomea H, Kapadia A. 2021 7th International Conference of the Immersive Learning Research Network (iLRN). COVIDCampus Game: Making Safer Choices View
  8. Gray C, Chesser A, Atchley A, Smitherman R, Tenhundfeld N. 2022 Systems and Information Engineering Design Symposium (SIEDS). Humanlikeness and Aesthetic Customization's Effect on Trust, Performance, and Affect View
  9. Tasnim R, Eishita F. 2021 IEEE 9th International Conference on Serious Games and Applications for Health(SeGAH). Analyzing the Distinctive Impact of Personality Traits on Serious Gameplay Experience View
  10. Vossen W, Szymanski M, Verbert K. Proceedings of the 29th International Conference on Intelligent User Interfaces. The effect of personalizing a psychotherapy conversational agent on therapeutic bond and usage intentions View