Mental disorders in college athletes

Abstract

Psychiatric problems were discussed from results of the analysis of mental disorders in athletic students of T University.

37 athletic students have visited our psychiatric clinic of T University Health Center from 1993 to 2003. Both rates of their visiting and average frequency were lower than those of non-athletic students. They first visited our clinic mostly in senior grade. Eating disorders and adjustment disorders were most frequently observed. The rate of eating disorders in athletic students was higher than those in non-athletics, while that of schizophrenia was lower. Athletes of eating disorder mostly majored in events requested of endurance or aesthetics. They had a character tendency of emotional lability, indecisiveness, sensitive to others and suspiciousness. Inconsistency of identities both as an athlete and a university student might trigger their mental problems.