Vincent Gouttebarge1,2,3,4, Ruud Jonkers5, Maarten Moen6,7, Evert Verhagen2,4,8,9, Paul Wylleman6,10, Gino Kerkhoffs1,2,3. 1. a Academic Center for Evidence based Sports medicine (ACES) , Academic Medical Center , Amsterdam , The Netherlands. 2. b Amsterdam Collaboration for Health & Safety in Sports (ACHSS) , Academic Medical Center, VU University medical center , Amsterdam , The Netherlands. 3. c Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Academic Medical Center , Amsterdam , The Netherlands. 4. d Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine , University of Cape Town , Cape Town , South Africa. 5. e DWJ Partners , Uithoorn , The Netherlands. 6. f Elite Sports department , Nederlands Olympisch Comité en Nederlandse Sport Federatie (NOC*NSF) , Arnhem , The Netherlands. 7. g The Sportsphysician Group , Onze Lieve Vrouw Gasthuis , Amsterdam , The Netherlands. 8. h Department of Public & Occupational Health and EMGO+ Institute , VU University Medical Center , Amsterdam , The Netherlands. 9. i Australian Centre for Research into Injury in Sport and its Prevention (ACRISP) , Federation University Australia , Australia. 10. j Department of Sports Policy and Management , Vrije Universiteit Brussel , Brussel , Belgium.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Scientific knowledge about symptoms of common mental disorders in elite sports is scarce. Consequently, the objectives of the study were to (i) establish the 12-month incidence of symptoms of common mental disorders (CMD; distress, anxiety/depression, sleep disturbance, adverse alcohol use, eating disorders) among Dutch elite athletes and (ii) explore their potential association with several stressors (being injured, recent life events, career dissatisfaction). METHODS: A prospective cohort study with a 12-month follow-up period was conducted. The study used validated questionnaires to assess symptoms of common mental disorders (thus not clinically diagnosed) as well as several stressors; an electronic questionnaire was set up and repeatedly distributed. RESULTS: A total of 203 elite athletes gave their written informed consent to participate in the study, from which 143 completed the 12-month follow-up period (follow-up rate of 70%). Incidence of symptoms of CMD ranged from 6% for adverse alcohol use to 57% for symptoms of anxiety/depression. Over the follow-up period, around 17% of the participants reported two simultaneous symptoms of CMD, and around 19% reported three simultaneous symptoms of CMD. Inferences between some stressors and symptoms of CMD were found but none of the associations were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Substantial 12-month incidence rates of symptoms of CMD (self-reported and not clinically diagnosed) were found among Dutch elite athletes (especially for anxiety/depression), appearing similar to the ones found among athletes from other sports disciplines and the Dutch general population. Also, inferences between some stressors and symptoms of CMD were found but none of the associations were statistically significant. Supportive and preventive measures directed towards symptoms of CMD should be developed to improve awareness and psychological resilience of athletes, which would likely improve their performance and quality-of-life.
OBJECTIVE: Scientific knowledge about symptoms of common mental disorders in elite sports is scarce. Consequently, the objectives of the study were to (i) establish the 12-month incidence of symptoms of common mental disorders (CMD; distress, anxiety/depression, sleep disturbance, adverse alcohol use, eating disorders) among Dutch elite athletes and (ii) explore their potential association with several stressors (being injured, recent life events, career dissatisfaction). METHODS: A prospective cohort study with a 12-month follow-up period was conducted. The study used validated questionnaires to assess symptoms of common mental disorders (thus not clinically diagnosed) as well as several stressors; an electronic questionnaire was set up and repeatedly distributed. RESULTS: A total of 203 elite athletes gave their written informed consent to participate in the study, from which 143 completed the 12-month follow-up period (follow-up rate of 70%). Incidence of symptoms of CMD ranged from 6% for adverse alcohol use to 57% for symptoms of anxiety/depression. Over the follow-up period, around 17% of the participants reported two simultaneous symptoms of CMD, and around 19% reported three simultaneous symptoms of CMD. Inferences between some stressors and symptoms of CMD were found but none of the associations were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Substantial 12-month incidence rates of symptoms of CMD (self-reported and not clinically diagnosed) were found among Dutch elite athletes (especially for anxiety/depression), appearing similar to the ones found among athletes from other sports disciplines and the Dutch general population. Also, inferences between some stressors and symptoms of CMD were found but none of the associations were statistically significant. Supportive and preventive measures directed towards symptoms of CMD should be developed to improve awareness and psychological resilience of athletes, which would likely improve their performance and quality-of-life.
Authors: Vincent Gouttebarge; João Mauricio Castaldelli-Maia; Paul Gorczynski; Brian Hainline; Mary E Hitchcock; Gino M Kerkhoffs; Simon M Rice; Claudia L Reardon Journal: Br J Sports Med Date: 2019-06 Impact factor: 13.800