Sport psychiatry and psychotherapeutic intervention, circa 2016

Abstract

The focus of this paper is to provide an update on the use of psychotherapy as a treatment in sport psychiatry, and the use of this approach to address common psychiatric issues encountered with this population. Specifically, family therapy, individual therapy, and group psychotherapy prescribed alone, or in combination with medication, will be examined as methods to manage issues/disorders often associated with athletes. These include obsessive-compulsive rituals and perfectionism, and aggressive and risky behaviours, such as gambling, infidelity, substance use, and suicidal ideation, narcissism, and aggression in the context of individual and team competitive sports.

Psychotherapy for mental health symptoms and disorders in elite athletes: a narrative review

“…This may be largely due to a binge pattern of consumption during non-competitive or vacation periods 10. Cannabis is also used in athletic populations and is associated with factors such as high sensation-seeking tendencies and overestimating the normative use of the substance 8. Seitz et al found that athletes are more likely to use cannabis recreationally compared with non-athletes 11.…”

“…Moreover, elite athletes have sport-specific medication considerations, for example, antidoping regulations and the desire for avoidance of side effects that could negatively impact athletic performance 8. Some of the side effects of particular relevance and concern for elite athlete include sedation, weight gain and tremor 8.…”

“…It is important to have a clear understanding of the impact that an athlete’s significant other(s) have on an athlete’s mental health symptoms and disorders (and vice versa). Many times, these influences can be a large reason, or the sole reason, that an athlete will seek or participate in treatment 8. While inclusion of these individuals may be viewed as intrusive, they may have a large influence on the day-to-day life of the elite athlete and their treatment adherence 1.…”

“…Moreover, athletes involved in team sports may be particularly responsive to health professional-led groups, as they are accustomed to the team-coach dynamic, in which the ‘team’ is led by the ‘coach’ 8. These groups can also provide psychoeducation to elite athletes about mental health symptoms and disorders and their respective treatments 22.…”

“…For example, ‘overtraining syndrome’ and clinical depression may present similarly, with fatigue, insomnia, weight change, appetite loss, cognitive deficits and lack of energy or motivation 8. When overtraining is an important underlying issue for the athlete, psychotherapy for depression may be ineffective 9 48…”