I'm not sure what some of the anti-video game faction would have to say about this, but researchers at the US National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Maryland have said that using video games, or modifications of games, can not only help in diagnosing depression, but also help in determining the severity of such problems.

The volunteers were allowed to familiarize themselves with a virtual reality town such as that used in Duke Nukem, before being given 20 minutes to navigate their way around that town locating various landmarks ....

Within the [depressed] group there emerged a clear correlation between severity of depression and navigational ability, with those suffering from the most acute depression displaying the least ability to find their way around the virtual town.

Using technology to aid in medical diagnoses is nothing new, but the researchers seem excited about the potential for this sort of diagnostic tool, especially when given the difficulties of diagnosing depression in the first place. Maggie Greene

Feelings of depression? Nuke 'em! [CNN International]

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