Sport and Performance Psychiatry: An Emerging Specialty

 Sport and Performance Psychiatry: An Emerging Specialty

Jennifer Morris, M.D. MBA

American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

American Board of Preventative Medicine-addiction

American Board of Obesity Medicine

Certificate of additional training--International Society of Sport Psychiatry


  • Team physician: check
  • Athletic trainer: check
  • Strength and Conditioning staff: check
  • Sports Psychiatrist? What's that?
Sport and performance psychiatry focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric illness in athletes and high performers, and also utilizes both medical and psychological approaches to maintain health and enhance performance.

Specifically touching on athletics, the sport psychiatrist is a valuable contributor. In collaboration with the rest of the medical team, the sport psychiatrist is uniquely positioned to support optimal performance, life balance, stress control, injury recovery, substance misuse prevention, and mental health and well-being. 

Psyche development of an athlete begins in childhood and evolves through the life cycle of the athlete, from sport introduction to retirement from the sport. The sport psychiatrist is trained to recognize and aid in healthy development of this progression. 

Athletes suffer from the same mental health risks and illnesses as non-athletes, but also face unique concerns such as sport-related TBIs and certain eating disorders, as well as vulnerability to performance-enhancing drugs. Additionally, choosing pharmacologic interventions for athletes pose unique and frequently sport-specific considerations, and medicine options available to non-athletes may be on the banned substance list of anti-doping agencies. 

Athletes may also experience unique barriers to achieving treatment, such as training schedules and enhanced confidentiality challenges. Sports psychiatrists have the training to meet these needs, as well as assist in team and organization culture development--promoting wellness, inclusion, and cultural awareness. Sport psychiatrists are positioned to educaate stakeholders (coaching staff, boosters, family, supporters,) and to develop emergency action plans when warranted. (1)

The International Society of Sport Psychiatry was founded by Dr. Daniel Begel, MD, in 1994 to "facilitate scientific communication about, and understanding of, disorders of the brain and behavior associated with sport, and to advance their prevention and treatment." (2)  The American Board of Sports and Performance Psychiatry serves to further codify training and enhance the availability of resources to athletes and high performers. 

(1) Choulet, Brook, MD.  8 ways sports psychiatrist help athletes.  feb9 2024. psychology today 2024; Feb 9.  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sports-and-performance-psychiatry/202402/8-ways-sports-psychiatrists-help-athletes. Accessed 7/6/24. 

2. Beegel, D. sport psychiatry twenty-four years later. Int Rev Psychiatry. 2016; 28(6):547-550. 


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