Abstract
This article describes how sports medicine physicians can best approach the diagnoses of mental illness in athletes. Examples of psychiatric problems common to athletes, their incidences in the population, and diagnostic tips to ferret them out are given. Vignettes of well-known athletes who have had these problems are included. Each highlights how the lack of diagnostic awareness of mental health issues in the athletic community and the stigma of "mental illness" prevented the athlete from getting treatment sooner.
MeSH terms
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Anabolic Agents
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Anxiety Disorders / diagnosis
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Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / diagnosis
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Bipolar Disorder / diagnosis
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Brain Concussion / complications
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Depression / diagnosis
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Dietary Supplements
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Doping in Sports / prevention & control
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Feeding and Eating Disorders / diagnosis
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Female
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Humans
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Interview, Psychological / methods*
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Learning Disabilities / diagnosis
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Male
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Mental Disorders / diagnosis*
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Mental Disorders / etiology
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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / diagnosis
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Panic Disorder / diagnosis
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Parent-Child Relations
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Social Behavior Disorders / diagnosis
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Sports / psychology*
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Sports Medicine / methods*
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Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / diagnosis
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Substance-Related Disorders / diagnosis