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Does new video game really help teens deal with depression?

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    Dr. Keith Ablow weighs in

  • Duration 3:29
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Now let's talk about a new tool that could help teenagers.

Who are coping with depression a lot of young people suffering from depression.

But they complain the traditional counseling is boring and some places it's hard to find.

So a team of mental health experts has gotten together with some video game developers overseas coming up with.

A new role playing game that they say will help teenagers -- the blues.

Doctor -- tableau as a psychiatrist is a member of the Fox News medical -- not always good talked to doc thanks very much damage and this caught our attention.

Because the poster war.

Post Tucson where we see these young people and you know I'm not gonna make a diagnosis but clearly they're dealing with some mental health issues if there's a video game that could potentially reach them and help them.

And others like them at a younger age.

Sounds like something that could be very.

Worthwhile right.

Well it sounds that way but here's the problem.

It's not getting to the root of the why why are these young people depressed it's essentially papering over that saying listen haven't.

-- avatar and literally gives you a fake character.

To shoot lightning bolts of negative thoughts.

They distract you may make you feel a little better for -- even for a week or two.

But it's not getting to the root of why your life has turned toward darkness so I fear that really.

Video games FaceBook technology these are things that weigh on your mental health.

Two somehow turnaround scenario it's the way I -- No I think that what's happening is listen cocaine.

Can get you to feel better from depression until it crew you know crashes you into -- worst depression and I'd compare this to that.

The game focuses.

According to developers on something called.

Cognitive behavioral therapy what is that -- -- behavioral therapy is basically saying listen it's not necessarily your mother.

It's not just so you trauma it could be that simply have negative thoughts and negative patterns of behaving.

Hey you have to stick get you -- feel lower than you need to -- if you can simply reversed those and instead when you feel bad.

That picture yourself shooting a lightning bull that the bad thought and get yourself on at that moment well sure I get that -- that can be part of the solution.

But if that's gonna be -- -- cure what's gonna happen is that -- sooner or later the roots of the depression -- gonna drag you back down.

Because you just further down a path with no insight and -- -- insight is the cure for these things okay so maybe the video game is not the answer insight is the answer for parents out there.

Who were watching right now who.

May be noticing things in in their teenage children yes mood.

Changes behavioral changes that -- that they find alarming what would you say that that I'd say look get a therapist.

You know.

Medicines can be very helpful.

Psychotherapy can be very helpful don't turn to the quick easy fix -- get him a computer game listen.

We're gonna find out that this is the most addictive drug that we've ever known these alternate reality shows like second life dot com.

FaceBook to a certain extent to say hey you know I'll give you faced.

Look on steroids you'll be an avatar and you're not depressed in the video game.

Who is sick but I am depressed because I can't really tears parents and I just told me to forget my feelings and just pretend that I don't have.

That would be a prescription.

For disaster stay away from this video -- doctor -- dabble is a psychiatrist a member of the Fox News medical aid team.

Thank you so much thank you so much -- -- over the counter.

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