Screening and Assessment tool for sport
September saw an important development for the mental health care of elite athletes with the publication of a screening and assessment tool for use in elite sport.
The Sport Mental Health Assessment Tool (SMHAT) includes a general screening instrument for symptoms with more comprehensive screening for specific symptoms (disturbed sleep, anxiety, eating issues, depression and alcohol/substance misuse) available for those who score positive on the general measure. Guidance is also provided for practitioners on next steps including initial management and further assessment.
The SMHAT is complemented by a recognition tool that can be used by all members of the athletes entourage (the Sport Mental Health Recognition Tool or SMHRT).
A 12-month prospective cohort study of symptoms of common mental disorders among professional rugby players
Gouttebarge, V., Hopley, P., Kerkhoffs, G. M. M. J., Verhagen, E. A. L. M., Viljoen, P. W., & Lambert, M. (2018). A 12-Month prospective cohort study of symptoms of common mental disorders among professional rugby players. European Journal of Sport Science, (April). http://doi.org/10.1097/JSM.0000000000000388
Male professional rugby players have significant and often enduring symptoms of common mental health problems according a recently published large survey published in the European Journal of Sport Science (Gouttebarge et al., 2018)
Unusually the study is a 12 month observational prospective cohort design rather than a simple point prevalence survey with symptoms being measured at 3 time points (baseline and then at 3 and 12 month follow-up). The subjects were players from all the major rugby playing nations and thus a sample across different cultures. Players came from both rugby codes (union and league) and also included rugby sevens specialists – although the results are reported in aggregate form. They had a mean age of 26, mean weight of 101kg and just over half had attended college or university.
Players were scored using a number of recognised tools for measuring mental health symptoms seen in athletes (e.g. PROMIS for sleep disturbance and the GHQ-12 for symptoms of anxiety and depression). Data was available at both follow-up points for 333 players allowing observations to be made on the longitudinal course of symptoms.
13% of participants reported symptoms at both 3 and 12 months suggesting a significant prevalence of enduring symptoms. Players who reported recent life events or career dissatisfaction were more likely to be symptomatic but this did not reach statistical significance. Almost all of those with symptoms suggested that this adversely affected their sporting performance and nearly half reported that specific support measures for players were inadequate.
