Enhancing cognition, motivation, and behavioral performance in individuals with severe mental illness through an intervention incorporating tabletop games

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of tabletop games on cognition, motivation and behavioral performance for individuals with severe mental illness (SMI). A total of 44 eligible participants were recruited in a single psychiatric medical institute and were assigned to either the experimental group (EG, n = 21) or a control group (CG, n = 23). The outcome measures were cognition measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Color Trails Test (CTT), behavioral performance measured by Work Behavior Inventory (WBI), and motivation measured by Volitional Questionnaire. After eight weeks of tabletop game intervention, three times a week for 60 min each time, the EG exhibited significant and/or medium trends of improvement in all outcome measures. The CG showed significant and medium trend of improvement in delayed recall of MoCA and time to finish Color Trails Test 1, and regression in orientation of MoCA and work quality in WBI. Tabletop games improve cognition, motivation and behavioral performance in individuals with SMI. Further investigation is required to determine the long-term effects of tabletop games intervention.