Screening for depression in sport

A 2016 paper by Professor Thomas Trojian (Philadelphia) in the British Journal of Sports Medicine makes some important points about depression in sport, including:

1. The sports physician's responsibility to look after the whole athlete/patient including mental health and well-being.

2. Sporting stresses increase the risks for athletes especially where they lack social support and are under-performing in their sport. Poor sleep and low self-esteem also contribute and female athletes are at higher risk

3. Screening is helpful but there needs to be clarity about the response to positive results from screening – most importantly the availability of a more detailed assessment and appropriate treatment.

Read the full article here.