Cited by 63Sport Psychology and PerformancePsychological Treatments and AssessmentsMental Health Treatment and Access

Prevalence and comorbidity of psychiatric disorders among treatment-seeking elite athletes and high-performance coaches

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Åkesdotter, Cecilia, Kenttä, Göran, Eloranta, Sandra, Håkansson, Anders, Franck, Johan·2022·BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine

Abstract

Objectives: Few studies have evaluated the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among treatment-seeking elite athletes (EA) or high-performance coaches (HPC) in psychiatric outpatient settings. Methods: Descriptive overview of EA and HPC with psychiatric disorders at two publicly funded psychiatric outpatient treatment clinics in Stockholm and Malmö, Sweden. Co-occurring psychiatric disorders were illustrated using Venn diagrams for EA and HPC, and male and female EA separately, among patients from the Stockholm clinic (SC) that used standardised diagnostic interviews. Results: Overall, most patients were EA (n=221) compared with HPC (n=34). The mean age was 23.5 (±5.9) years for EA and 42.8 (±8.8) for HPC. Anxiety disorders were most common at the SC in EA and HPC (69% vs 91%, respectively). Stress-related disorders were found in 72% of HPC compared with 25% of EA. Affective disorders were found in 51% of EA and 52% of HPC. Eating disorders were common among EA (26%), especially females (37%). Substance use disorders were found in 17% of HPC. Comorbidity was generally common between affective and anxiety disorders. Conclusion: Stress and adjustment disorders were found in nearly three of the four HPC compared with one in four EA. Eating disorders were prevalent in around one in four athletes and about one in six HPC had a substance use disorder.

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Crossref · 10.1136/bmjsem-2021-001264

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  • One study explored the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in a treatment-seeking population.

    “and one study (2.4%) [108] explored the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in a treatment-seeking population.”
  • 17% of a treatment-seeking population met the clinical diagnosis for a psychoactive substance-use disorder.

    “Åkesdotter and colleagues also found that 17% of a treatment-seeking population met the clinical diagnosis for a psychoactive substance-use disorder (e.g. alcohol or substance-related disorder) [108].”

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Authors
Åkesdotter, C., Kenttä, G., Eloranta, S., Håkansson, A., & Franck, J.
Affiliations
  • Karolinska Institutet (SE)
  • University of Ottawa (CA)
  • Lund University (SE)
Corresponding author
Åkesdotter, Cecilia
Venue
BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine
Publisher
BMJ
Published
2022-03
Volume
8
Issue
1
Pages
e001264
ISSN
2055-7647 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4221047362
Cited by
63
References
27
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 3
FWCI
21.32
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Diva portal (Dalarna University Library) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Lund University Publications (Lund University) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Region Stockholm
  • Swedish School of Sport and health sciences
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Sport Psychology and Performance
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychological Treatments and Assessments
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
Keywords
mental illness, elite athletes, prevalence, comorbidities, anxiety disorders, stress-related disorders, mood disorders, eating disorders, substance use disorders, adjustment disorder, sex differences

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