Enhancing Episodic Future Thinking in Children with ADHD: A Virtual Reality Gaming Therapy Approach

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects a significant number of children worldwide, impacting their learning and social interactions. Current treatments primarily focus on medication and behavioral therapies, with recent Virtual Reality (VR) games targeting executive function training. Episodic Future Thinking (EFT) refers to the cognitive ability to project oneself into the future to envision potential outcomes based on past experiences. Most existing VR games for ADHA overlook the potential of Episodic Future Thinking (EFT) to enhance decision-making and behavioral control. This work addresses this gap by developing VR-based EFT games. These games aim to simulate real-life scenarios within a virtual playground, teaching children with ADHD essential skills such as turn-taking, respecting personal space, and patience through interactive modules like Turn-Taking, Maintaining Personal Space, and Patience Practice. This innovative approach promises to enhance the current ADHD treatment landscape by offering a more engaging, effective, and holistic method for managing the disorder’s symptoms. In this work, we review relevant literature, detail our current game design, and outline plans for future evaluations.