Availability, accessibility and effectiveness of psychological interventions following sports injuries or career termination in elite athletes

Abstract Mental health is becoming increasing focus in sport, especially after sport injuries or career termination. This review highlights the accessibility and effects of psychological interventions and extends existing evidence by including both injury- and career termination-related interventions across diverse study designs. We conducted a systematic search in June 2025 across four databases (PubMed, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, PsycInfo) to identify peer-reviewed clinical studies involving injured elite athletes or those at the end of their careers (aged 16+), who received psychological interventions such as psychotherapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) or mindfulness-based approaches. In all, 13 studies were included with a total of 298 participants. The studies employed various psychological approaches, e.g., ACT, mindfulness training, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), goal-setting or behavioral activation (BA). The quality of the studies was assessed by using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist for observational studies, JBI checklist for quasi-experimental studies and the PEDro scale for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Findings indicate that psychological interventions enhance mental health and support rehabilitation. Two included studies focused on athletes’ post-sport careers. Due to the variety of investigated sports and methodological approaches, it remains unclear whether individual or team athletes benefit more. The studies offered a broad overview but limiting detailed insights into specific interventions. This study underscores the need for standardized and easily accessible psychological support for injured athletes.