Mental health in elite athletes: International Olympic Committee consensus statement (2019). Issue 11 (16th May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Reardon, Claudia L; Hainline, Brian; Aron, Cindy Miller; Baron, David; Baum, Antonia L; Bindra, Abhinav; Budgett, Richard; Campriani, Niccolo; Castaldelli-Maia, João Mauricio; Currie, Alan; Derevensky, Jeffrey Lee; Glick, Ira D; Gorczynski, Paul; Gouttebarge, Vincent; Grandner, Michael A; Han, Doug Hyun; McDuff, David; Mountjoy, Margo; Polat, Aslihan; Purcell, Rosemary; Putukian, Margot; Rice, Simon; Sills, Allen; Stull, Todd; Swartz, Leslie; Zhu, Li Jing; Engebretsen, Lars
• Is Part Of: British journal of sports medicine. Volume 53:Issue 11(2019)
• Page Start: 667
• Page End: 699
• Publication Date: 2019-05-16
• Subjects: elite performance -- consensus statement -- mental -- psychiatry -- psychology; Sports medicine -- Periodicals; 617.1027
• DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2019-100715
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-3674

Abstract

Abstract : Mental health symptoms and disorders are common among elite athletes, may have sport related manifestations within this population and impair performance. Mental health cannot be separated from physical health, as evidenced by mental health symptoms and disorders increasing the risk of physical injury and delaying subsequent recovery. There are no evidence or consensus based guidelines for diagnosis and management of mental health symptoms and disorders in elite athletes. Diagnosis must differentiate character traits particular to elite athletes from psychosocial maladaptations. Management strategies should address all contributors to mental health symptoms and consider biopsychosocial factors relevant to athletes to maximise benefit and minimise harm. Management must involve both treatment of affected individual athletes and optimising environments in which all elite athletes train and compete. To advance a more standardised, evidence based approach to mental health symptoms and disorders in elite athletes, an International Olympic Committee Consensus Work Group critically evaluated the current state of science and provided recommendations.