Treating Depression in Athletes

Depression is common in the athletic population despite the known benefits of exercise on mood and health. General and sports-specific risk factors may contribute to the development of depression and should be considered when evaluating an athlete. Stigma continues to weigh heavily on athletes within sport, often leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment. Building rapport, providing a supportive environment, stressing confidentiality, and recognizing how treatment options and goals may differ among individuals can help increase the likelihood that an athlete will engage in treatment. Ideal depression management in athletes should include prompt identification, a proper formulation and a treatment plan synergistic with the athlete's needs. Treatment that necessitates medication may require more athlete-specific parameters due to risks and doping control issues. The aim of this review is to provide the most up-to-date guidelines for identifying and treating depression in athletes to allow for the best possible care for these unique patients. [ Psychiatr Ann . 2024;54(11):e308–e312.]