Move by move towards mental health: a quasi-randomized pilot study on chess as a therapeutic approach in adolescents with mental disorders
Background - Mental disorders affect around 14% of adolescents worldwide and often lead to lasting cognitive and emotional difficulties. Executive functions (EF) are frequently impaired and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is reduced. Chess has been proposed as a low-cost cognitive remediation...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article (Journal) |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
June 15, 2026
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| In: |
Clinical child psychology and psychiatry
Year: 2026, Pages: 1-19 |
| ISSN: | 1461-7021 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/13591045261453970 |
| Online Access: | Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1177/13591045261453970
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| Author Notes: | Sarah Gerhardt, Stefanie Hoier, Alexandra Seeger, Roland Schmidt, Larissa Weber, Konstantin Mechler, Tobias Banaschewski, Alexander Häge and Sabine Vollstädt-Klein |
| Summary: | Background - Mental disorders affect around 14% of adolescents worldwide and often lead to lasting cognitive and emotional difficulties. Executive functions (EF) are frequently impaired and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is reduced. Chess has been proposed as a low-cost cognitive remediation training (CRT). This pilot study examined whether a chess-based CRT could enhance EF and HRQoL in adolescents with mental disorders. - Methods - A quasi-experimental study was conducted at a child and adolescent psychiatry department. Participants aged 13-17 years were assigned to either a six-week chess intervention (experimental group, EG) or treatment as usual (control group, CG). Both groups received standard multidisciplinary therapy, while the EG additionally participated in weekly 90-min chess sessions based on The King’s Plan for Kids. Cognitive flexibility (DCCS), inhibitory control (Stop-Signal Task), sustained attention (d2-R), and working memory (n-back task) were assessed alongside HRQoL (KIDSCREEN-27). Data were analyzed using t-tests. - Results - Thirty-three adolescents were included (19 EG, 14 CG; 82% female). The EG showed significantly faster reaction times in the working memory task (p = .016, d = 0.79) and greater Psychological well-being CG (p = .035, d = 0.67). No significant group differences were found for other EF measures. - Conclusion - Chess-based CRT was associated with improved working memory efficiency and psychological well-being, supporting its potential as a feasible, engaging, and low-risk adjunct to standard therapy. Larger randomized trials are needed to confirm these preliminary results. |
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| Item Description: | Gesehen am 14.07.2026 |
| Physical Description: | Online Resource |
| ISSN: | 1461-7021 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/13591045261453970 |