The Underestimated Role of the Sports Psychiatrist in Athletic Performance Restoration, Maintenance, and Enhancement in Sports

• DOI: 10.1111/sms.14697
• Publication Date: 2024-08-16T13:24:30Z
• Authors: Malte Christian C...; James W. Burger; Ranjit Menon; Masaki Nishida; Eugene Koh Boon Yau; Carolyn Nahman; Jim Whitehead; Carla Edwards; David Baron; Ira Glick
• Keywords: Sports medicine; Performance enhancement

ABSTRACT In competitive and elite sports, mental health athletic performance cannot be considered separately. Mental disorders in sports are bidirectionally associated with reduced performance. A decline performance, both within outside of sport, can a sign disorder. Additionally, poor is potential risk factor for athletes. The central role psychiatrists play the athletes well‐established. However, their less well‐described more controversial, perhaps due to perception that purely secondary outcome good health. This paper discusses sports. Performance distinguished into three key focus areas psychiatrists: (i) restoration, (ii) maintenance, (iii) enhancement. These should throughout continuum care, from prevention, treatment, ongoing care disorders. When disorder, psychiatric treatment purposefully aim restore functioning as part management. Maintenance is, similarly, an important element Holistic may also choose enhancement beyond context symptoms disorders, help flourish achieve goals.