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Preventing intrusive memories after trauma
~ L Iyadurai, SE Blackwell
Dr. Iyadurai was supported by a National Institute for Health Research Doctoral Research Fellowship (DRF-2011-04-076).

Playing a game of Tetris in the aftermath of a traumatic event can help alleviate the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

This according to a report from a team of university researchers in the UK, Germany, and Sweden, who say in their paper [PDF] for the journal Molecular Psychiatry that when given the computer game to play in the hours following a serious auto accident, patients experienced fewer early symptoms associated with PTSD.

(https://metrouk2.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/tetris-gif.gif)

The study presented 71 car accident patients (drivers, passengers and pedestrians) in the emergency room at John Radcliffe Hospital with an "intervention" of Tetris gameplay on a Nintendo DS handheld to occupy the hours after an accident when early memories of the event can begin to cause PTSD.

The study found that after a week, those who had played the games reported experiencing fewer disruptive memories over the course of their day than those in the control group who did not get a game to play.

The researchers believe that by being exposed to Tetris or other mild forms of brain stimulation, the mind is drawn away from dwelling on the memories of the event and therefore is less prone to creating the disruptive memory events associated with PTSD.

This, in turn, could lead to more effective psychological treatments that could be employed in the hours following serious trauma and limit the potential severity of long-term mental health effects.

"A brief, science-driven intervention offers a low-intensity means that could substantially improve the mental health of those who have experienced psychological trauma – and for we believe the first time offers a cognitive 'therapeutic vaccine' that could be administered soon after a traumatic event to prevent intrusive memories of trauma in the subsequent week."

The original article:
Preventing intrusive memories after trauma via a brief
intervention involving Tetris computer game play in the
emergency department: a proof-of-concept randomized
controlled trial (http://www.nature.com/mp/journal/vaop/ncurrent/pdf/mp201723a.pdf)

definitely. i push games on my friends all the time. to me, a good computer game or video game is as good if not better than a movie or a book (also good things to help you get your mind off things).

i do find that if im going through something traumatic, or im depressed, what have you, its hard for me to concentrate and "get into" a game. in that case i prefer something pretty repetitive and redundant, usually not highly challenging. theres a good one remade in flash that i like for that, basically another version of the game of life, called jones in the fast lane.

This is an interesting study about using the game Tetris to alleviate PTSD.  Has anyone found that some game helped them get through a tough time, by getting your mind off things?

After a chain of traumatic events, I had a period of time when I'd wake up a couple of hours after falling asleep at night. I would be anxious and had breathing problems.  It may have been a combo of allergies/asthma and anxiety or just anxiety - not sure.  The only thing that helped me get through those episodes was an arcade game I played on my Ipad, it was called Can Kickdown 3.  I'd get out of bed and play the game for an average of an hour.  Finally, the situation would pass and I'd go back to bed and fall asleep.  

When I heard the story about the Tetris game, it brought back some memories.  I can understand how some games can have therapeutic value in chilling the mind.  All games aren't necessarily a waste of time.