Studying Whether Playing Tetris Helps Prevent PTSD, Anxiety, and Depression in Arabic-Speaking Immigrants Who Applied for Asylum in Greece or the Netherlands

What This Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating whether playing the game Tetris can help prevent the development of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD or related anxiety and depressive symptoms among immigrants who have applied for asylum. The study involves 300 participants from Greece and the Netherlands, focusing on mental health outcomes during and after migration. Participants answer questionnaires about PTSD, anxiety, depression, and post-migration living difficulties every four weeks for a total of 12 times over 40 weeks. The study randomly assigns half of the participants to a treatment group who play Tetris on their mobile phones for at least 15 minutes at three different times during the study. While playing, participants are asked to recall recent bad experiences. They are also encouraged to play Tetris if they experience any traumatic events or intrusive memories during the study. The other half of participants serve as a control group and do not play Tetris. Participants complete regular mental health questionnaires throughout the 40-week study period. Researchers track symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, depression, and challenges related to post-migration living. The study aims to measure if playing Tetris influences these mental health outcomes. Data is collected through repeated questionnaires, and no masking is used. The total participation lasts about 40 weeks with ongoing follow-up.

The Impact of Playing Tetris on Migrants' Mental Health