Personal Zen app for iPhone and iPad
Developer: Hadley Harris
First release : 21 Aug 2013
App size: 57.15 Mb
Personal Zen is a game-based digital therapeutic intended to treat patients 13 years of age and older with mild to severe levels of clinically elevated anxiety or distress and is intended to be used in consultation with your healthcare provider.
Personal Zen’s core therapeutic mechanism of action is a game-based approach to a decades old area of neurocognitive research known as Attention Bias Modification (ABM). Through this proprietary approach to ABM, Personal Zen uses gamification to target neural pathways associated with emotional and attentional patterns that can drive excessive anxiety and distress.
Based on your current levels of anxiety, fatigue and pain, a daily goal of gameplay is recommended (typically between 6 and 12 minutes). Play 4 times a week for at least 4 weeks to see the best results.
You can also access brief, science-backed tools to support your mental health journey including:
- Journaling & mood tracking to help identify feelings and triggers
- Breathing exercises to calm anxiety and improve sleep
- Mindfulness practices
How Does Personal Zen Work?
The human brain is uniquely predisposed to unconscious, sub-second processing of facial expression. Personal Zen uses facial archetypes and gamification to re-train emotional and attentional patterns that can drive persistent feelings of anxiety and distress. Personal Zen’s proprietary game mechanics have been designed and optimized through a decade of neuroscientific research using EEG, neurostimulation, eye tracking, heart rate monitoring and MRI.
Personal Zen has been clinically validated through six randomized controlled clinical trials published in leading peer-reviewed research journals including Clinical Psychological Science, Behavior Research & Therapy, and Biological Psychology.
After 4 weeks of usage, clinical effects have included a 38% reduction in anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory), a 491% reduction in cognitive signs of anxiety (Dot-Probe Task Measure), as well as a statistically significant reduction in the stress hormone cortisol.
How Do I Play Personal Zen?
Start by logging your levels of Anxiety, Fatigue, and Pain. A daily goal of gameplay will be recommended between 6 and 12 minutes. It is recommended that you meet this daily goal 4 days a week for at least 4 weeks. To play Personal Zen, swipe the path left by the friendly sprite (smiling face) after it disappears. A “medallion” will appear, telling you where to focus your attention next. Don’t let the angry sprite divert your focus. Unlock new regions by earning points and increasing your level.
What experts are saying:
“Instantly engaging for adults and kids, Personal Zen is a rare example of science turned into fun in order to reduce stress and anxiety.”
Dr. Tony Simon, Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis
“Personal Zen brings cutting-edge research and well-established strategies for reducing anxiety and stress into the palm of your hand.”
Dr. Shannon M. Bennett, Assistant Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College
We respect your privacy. Read our privacy policy and terms of use here:
https://personalzen.com/legal/
Caution: Personal Zen is a computerized behavioral therapy (CBT) medical device software to provide a neurobehavioral intervention in patients 13 years of age and older with mild to severe levels of clinically elevated anxiety or distress, and is currently commercially distributed without prescription under FDA’s Enforcement Policy for Digital Health Devices For Treating Psychiatric Disorders. Above claims have not been evaluated by the FDA for safety and efficacy under a premarket review. Personal Zen does not represent a substitution for a patients medication, and patients should consult with their physician before using Personal Zen. Please read Personal Zen’s Instructions for Use before using the device.
Latest reviews of Personal Zen app for iPhone and iPad
Downloaded twice. Crashed upon opening both times. Not able to use.
Keeps giving notifications in my lock screen on my iPhone 4S even though the app is not in the notification center in my settings. Other than that the app does what it says.
I downloaded the ap at the suggestion of a friend. I suffer from PTSD and I get anxious when Im in crowds. I play the ap on the subway and on the bus to and from work and it actually does calm my nerves. The scoring mechanism does make me competitive with myself, which at times adds stress instead of relieving it, especially since it doesnt allow for higher scoring on higher levels. I also feel like it is pretty static and somewhat repetitive. I would like there to be a little more dynamic interface in terms or the speed of transitions and the ability to beat your personal best by playing faster. Over all, it serves a purpose and the dialog in my head is changing.
Make me want to throw my iPhone at the wall. The fn thing barks at you when you dont do what it wants!!!!!!!!
Downloaded twice. Wont even start