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Danish Psychiatrists To Use Counter-Strike

Posted by simoniker on from the subjects-get-lost-on-way-to-computer? dept.

Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing to a Boomtown.net article discussing a Danish hospital's use of Counter-Strike in tests regarding long-term depression. According to the article, experts "..will develop a special version of Counter-Strike for the [Aarhus psychiatric] hospital, which is ripped of all violent content, but still retains its unique 3D design.. Senior doctor Poul Videbech wants to use the maps for testing the navigational skills of patients, who have suffered from severe depression over a long time." Fraggin' awesome.

5 of 54 comments (clear)

  1. interesting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting
    I spent the better part of my life severely depressed, roughly from 1st or 2nd grade all the way through HS. I'm now 24.

    No, I'm not a pathetic web surfer pouring my heart out to slapdash :)

    The interesting thing is, I have _extremely_ poor navigation skills, both IRL and in *FPSes.

    BTW, happy, happily married, etc. these days.

    posted as AC because I don't talk about my personal life on teh Interweb.

    * it is my only weakness! Once I overcome it, I will 0wnX0r j00!

  2. Take out the violence? Whats left? by n1ywb · · Score: 0, Interesting

    Is there anything to CS that DOESN'T involve violence? I guess the maps. Seems like they could just use any FPS then.

    --
    -73, de n1ywb
    www.n1ywb.com
  3. Might be useful in mental institutions and prisons by mnmn · · Score: 4, Interesting

    CS gives a kind of virtual freedom that captivates the person and time passes by fast. The sames true with MMORPGs but in a different way. I could see CS kiosks in mental institutions with patients fragging the hell online players and being regular clanmembers. Much better than staring at the blank walls and flat nurses anyway.

    CS also makes for an excellent relief of anger and control, and it takes mental energy to really own a good team. Such exercises, if not portrayed too violent, could improve the quality of life for the casterated ones among us.

    --
    "Give orange me give eat orange me eat orange give me eat orange give me you." -Nim Chimpsky
  4. Nice to see it catching on by kyz · · Score: 2, Interesting

    When I was in university, one of the things I worked on was the Psychology department's computer visualisation system. They had made a 3D map of the department and got people who lose spacial awareness and forget where they are to perform tasks like "fetch something from room 21B and return to the coffee area".

    They used SGI's Inventor system on an Onyx machine at that time, not a PC game engine.

    --
    Does my bum look big in this?
  5. Perhaps... but by nortcele · · Score: 2, Interesting
    ...with psychological disorders. Virtual treatment for phobias has been shown to have a positive effect.
    With weapons, Counter-Strike would be a major downer for these guys. I remember my newbie experience. Went online and got my butt shot off by some guy called "The Pope". Now I'm not Catholic, but... being killed repeatedly by "The Pope"!? Yes, it left a scar.

    Without weapons, it will still cause depression. These guys will get stuck in some level and unable to get out, will wrap the mouse cord around their neck.