V Gouttebarge1, G M M J Kerkhoffs2. 1. Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, 9, Meibergdreef, 1105 Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Academic Center for Evidence-Based Sports Medicine (ACES), Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Collaboration on Health & Safety in Sports, Amsterdam UMC IOC Research Center of Excellence, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. Electronic address: v.gouttebarge@amsterdamumc.nl. 2. Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, 9, Meibergdreef, 1105 Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Academic Center for Evidence-Based Sports Medicine (ACES), Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Collaboration on Health & Safety in Sports, Amsterdam UMC IOC Research Center of Excellence, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In elite sports, concussion is common and recurrent, especially in high-speed contact or collision sports such as american and australian football, ice hockey and rugby. Mental health symptoms (e.g., anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance) are often reported by former elite athletes, with prevalence ranging from 16% for distress to 26% for anxiety/depression. This article focuses on the potential relationship between sports career-related concussion and mental health symptoms in former elite athletes. METHOD: A narrative mini-review was based on the scientific literature. RESULTS: Some literature based on cross-sectional data suggests that sports career-related concussion might lead in the long term to mental health symptoms in former elite athletes. Retired professional American football players reporting three or more previous concussions were found to be three times more likely to be diagnosed with depression than those with no history of concussion. Former professional athletes from football, ice hockey and rugby who reported a history of six or more concussions were approximately up to five times more likely to report mental health symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: While longitudinal evidence about any causal relationship is lacking, the suggested relationship between sports career-related concussion and mental health symptoms in former elite athletes warrants the development of support measures for elite athletes transitioning out of sport, especially for those with a history of concussion.
BACKGROUND: In elite sports, concussion is common and recurrent, especially in high-speed contact or collision sports such as american and australian football, ice hockey and rugby. Mental health symptoms (e.g., anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance) are often reported by former elite athletes, with prevalence ranging from 16% for distress to 26% for anxiety/depression. This article focuses on the potential relationship between sports career-related concussion and mental health symptoms in former elite athletes. METHOD: A narrative mini-review was based on the scientific literature. RESULTS: Some literature based on cross-sectional data suggests that sports career-related concussion might lead in the long term to mental health symptoms in former elite athletes. Retired professional American football players reporting three or more previous concussions were found to be three times more likely to be diagnosed with depression than those with no history of concussion. Former professional athletes from football, ice hockey and rugby who reported a history of six or more concussions were approximately up to five times more likely to report mental health symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: While longitudinal evidence about any causal relationship is lacking, the suggested relationship between sports career-related concussion and mental health symptoms in former elite athletes warrants the development of support measures for elite athletes transitioning out of sport, especially for those with a history of concussion.
Authors: Grant L Iverson; Ryan Van Patten; Douglas P Terry; Christopher R Levi; Andrew J Gardner Journal: Front Neurol Date: 2021-04-01 Impact factor: 4.003
Authors: Ben Weber; Jason Bos; Elizabeth Mary Clancy; Ranjit Menon; Tom Cross; Kate Hall Journal: Br J Sports Med Date: 2021-10-18 Impact factor: 13.800
Authors: Elena Sheldrake; Hiba Al-Hakeem; Brendan Lam; Benjamin I Goldstein; Anne L Wheeler; Matthew Burke; Benjamin T Dunkley; Nick Reed; Shannon E Scratch Journal: Front Neurol Date: 2022-04-11 Impact factor: 4.086