EndeavorRx

{{Short description|Video game used in ADHD therapy}}

{{Infobox video game

| title = EndeavorRx

| image =

| caption =

| developer = Akili Interactive Labs, Inc.

| publisher =

| composer =

| series =

| platforms = iOS
Android

| released =

| genre =

| modes = Single-player

| engine = Akili Selective Stimulus Management

}}

EndeavorRx is a video game used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder developed by Akili Interactive. It was based on a prototype game called NeuroRacer. NeuroRacer was developed by Akili Interactive and researchers at the University of San Francisco.{{Cite web |date=2013-09-04 |title=Training the Older Brain in 3-D: Video Game Enhances Cognitive Control {{!}} UC San Francisco |url=https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2013/09/108616/training-older-brain-3-d-video-game-enhances-cognitive-control |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315025732/https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2013/09/108616/training-older-brain-3-d-video-game-enhances-cognitive-control |archive-date=March 15, 2023 |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=www.ucsf.edu |language=en}} The game runs on an engine known as the Akili Selective Stimulus Management engine.{{Cite journal |last=Canady |first=Valerie A. |date=2020-06-29 |title=FDA approves first video game Rx treatment for children with ADHD |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/mhw.32423 |journal=Mental Health Weekly |language=en |volume=30 |issue=26 |pages=1–7 |doi=10.1002/mhw.32423 |s2cid=234731507 |issn=1058-1103|url-access=subscription }} EndeavorRx was known as AKL-T01 or Project: EVO ADHD Treatment during its development.{{Cite web |date=2017-12-04 |title=Akili preparing FDA bid following strong results of adolescent ADHD trial |url=https://www.mobihealthnews.com/content/akili-preparing-fda-bid-following-strong-results-adolescent-adhd-trial |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206154536/https://www.mobihealthnews.com/content/akili-preparing-fda-bid-following-strong-results-adolescent-adhd-trial |archive-date=December 6, 2022 |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=MobiHealthNews |language=en}} On June 15, 2020, it became the first ever video game to be cleared by the FDA. It was approved to be used as a treatment for children with ADHD with the age range of 8–12.{{Cite web |date=2020-06-15 |title=Akili Announces FDA Clearance of EndeavorRxTM for Children with ADHD, the First Prescription Treatment Delivered Through a Video Game |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200615005739/en/Akili-Announces-FDA-Clearance-of-EndeavorRxTM-for-Children-with-ADHD-the-First-Prescription-Treatment-Delivered-Through-a-Video-Game |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220805214137/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200615005739/en/Akili-Announces-FDA-Clearance-EndeavorRxTM-Children-ADHD |archive-date=August 5, 2022 |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=www.businesswire.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Park |first=Andrea |date=May 3, 2023 |title=Akili's therapeutic video game improves ADHD symptoms in 83% of adults: study |url=https://www.fiercebiotech.com/medtech/akilis-therapeutic-video-game-improves-adhd-symptoms-83-adults-study |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230506074250/https://www.fiercebiotech.com/medtech/akilis-therapeutic-video-game-improves-adhd-symptoms-83-adults-study |archive-date=May 6, 2023}}{{Cite web |date=2020-06-15 |title=EndeavorRx, Akili's video game therapeutic, receives FDA De Novo clearance |url=https://www.mobihealthnews.com/news/endeavorrx-akilis-video-game-therapeutic-receives-fda-de-novo-clearance |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519214916/https://www.mobihealthnews.com/news/endeavorrx-akilis-video-game-therapeutic-receives-fda-de-novo-clearance |archive-date=May 19, 2023 |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=MobiHealthNews |language=en}} Five studies on over 600 children were conducted to measure the effectiveness of EndeavorRx.{{Cite web |last=Commissioner |first=Office of the |date=2020-06-17 |title=FDA Permits Marketing of First Game-Based Digital Therapeutic to Improve Attention Function in Children with ADHD |url=https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-permits-marketing-first-game-based-digital-therapeutic-improve-attention-function-children-adhd |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514070855/https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-permits-marketing-first-game-based-digital-therapeutic-improve-attention-function-children-adhd |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=FDA |language=en}} They found "a 36% improvement in at least one objective measure of attention." The side effects found by the researchers include frustration,{{Cite web |date=2023-05-03 |title=Adults with ADHD See Significant Improvements in Attention, ADHD Symptoms, and Quality of Life in Clinical Trial of Akili's EndeavorRx® Video Game-Based Therapeutic |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230503005295/en/Adults-with-ADHD-See-Significant-Improvements-in-Attention-ADHD-Symptoms-and-Quality-of-Life-in-Clinical-Trial-of-Akili%E2%80%99s-EndeavorRx%C2%AE-Video-Game-Based-Therapeutic |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230513140325/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230503005295/en/Adults-with-ADHD-See-Significant-Improvements-in-Attention-ADHD-Symptoms-and-Quality-of-Life-in-Clinical-Trial-of-Akili%E2%80%99s-EndeavorRx%C2%AE-Video-Game-Based-Therapeutic |archive-date=May 13, 2023 |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=www.businesswire.com |language=en}} dizziness, headaches, and aggression.{{Cite journal |last=Urciuoli |first=Wendy |date=2020-07-01 |title=Wellness Through Answers News v.35:no.3 July-August 2020 |url=https://opencommons.uconn.edu/pcare_articles/125 |journal=Articles - Patient Care}}

In the game, the player is tasked with flying a spaceship across many levels. The player is faced with numerous tasks such as finding collectibles or catching animals. The game will alter its objectives based on the players performance. It may add new rewards and objectives or modify the game's pace in accordance with the pace of the player. EndeavorRx attempts to challenge the player and force them to learn to multitask and ignore distractions.{{Cite web |title=ADHD Treatment For Kids {{!}} Digital Therapeutic Video Game for ADHD |url=https://www.endeavorrx.com/about-endeavorrx/ |access-date=2023-05-27 |website=EndeavorRx |language=en-US}} Although EndeavorRx can be downloaded for mobile devices, it cannot be played without a prescription from a physician. It is recommended that the game should be played for 25 minutes a day, 5 days a week, for 4 weeks.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-06 |title=An FDA-Approved 'Prescription' Video Game? |url=https://sfstandard.com/public-health/meet-the-local-family-using-the-first-fda-approved-video-game-to-treat-their-sons-adhd/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414010345/https://sfstandard.com/public-health/meet-the-local-family-using-the-first-fda-approved-video-game-to-treat-their-sons-adhd/ |archive-date=April 14, 2023 |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=The San Francisco Standard |language=en-US}} Once the game has been played for the allotted time it will not let the player continue.{{Cite web |last=Jr |first=Tom Huddleston |date=2020-06-17 |title=See the first-ever video game approved by the FDA as a mental health treatment |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/17/video-endeavorrx-is-first-video-game-approved-by-fda-to-treat-adhd.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115122426/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/17/video-endeavorrx-is-first-video-game-approved-by-fda-to-treat-adhd.html |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=CNBC |language=en}}