Treatment: A Psychiatry Card Game (2016) Board Game

Treatment: A Psychiatry Card Game is a unique card game designed by Patrick Crotty and released in in 2016. It falls under the categories of card game and medical game, offering players a chance to experience the challenges and decision-making processes involved in psychiatric treatment.

Game Components of Treatment: A Psychiatry Card Game

Case cards: Represent various psychological cases such as substance use, psychotic disorders, and depressive disorders.

Treatment cards: Each has positives and negatives affecting social support, therapy, and pharmaceuticals.

Symptom cards: Modify the game rules slightly as each case proceeds.

Resource cards: Alter the scoring or rules of the current case.

Illustrations and artwork: Muted, washed-out color palette, fitting the psychiatric theme.

How To Setup Treatment: A Psychiatry Card Game

To set up the game, players are dealt a hand of treatment cards. The case cards, which represent different psychiatric conditions, are revealed one at a time. Each case indicates the number of treatments required to resolve it and the points awarded for each type of treatment.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Gameplay:
– Players draw new treatment cards, play treatment cards, or exchange two treatment cards from their hand for three from the deck.
– Each player takes an action, then play proceeds clockwise.
– Symptom cards are revealed each round, modifying the rules.
– Resource cards can alter the scoring or rules of the current case.

Objective:
– Resolve cases by playing the required number of treatment cards.
– Score points based on the treatment cards played.
– The player with the highest score for each case wins the case card.
– The game continues until one player wins enough case cards to achieve victory.

Player Experience

**Treatment: A Psychiatry Card Game** is designed to be easy to learn but tackles heavy and serious topics such as addiction, depression, and anxiety. The game aims to start discussions about psychiatry and reduce stigma around mental health issues. The quirky illustrations and thematic artwork add to the game’s unique feel, making it both educational and engaging.

Pros

Educational value: Encourages players to discuss and learn about psychiatric disorders.

Unique theme: Tackles serious topics in a respectful and informative manner.

Engaging gameplay: Combines strategy with the need to manage resources and treatments effectively.

Art and illustrations: The muted color palette and comic strip-style artwork fit the psychiatric theme well.

Cons

Niche audience: The game is very niche and may not appeal to everyone due to its heavy and serious topic.

Complexity in scoring: The scoring system can be complex, with multiple factors to consider when playing treatment cards.

Personal Thoughts on Treatment: A Psychiatry Card Game

**Treatment: A Psychiatry Card Game** is ideal for those interested in psychiatry or mental health, as well as for anyone looking for a game that can serve as an icebreaker for serious discussions. While it may not be for everyone due to its niche and heavy topic, it achieves its objective of creating a game that fosters conversation about mental health issues. For players dealing with these issues or educators looking for a unique teaching tool, this game is definitely worth a look.

We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.