Suicide in athletes: a review and commentary.
Not only are athletes at risk for psychiatric illness, but they are at risk of suicide. In an effort to learn more about suicide in athletes and those connected to the sports arena, a review of the medical literature from 1960 to 2000 was conducted through Medline, and a review of the periodical literature from 1980 to 2000 was conducted through Infotrac. These reviews revealed 71 cases of athletes who have either contemplated, attempted, or completed suicide. In this article, these cases are analyzed by sport, gender, and age. Through inference, an attempt to establish the etiologic basis for these behaviors is undertaken. Intervention and prevention strategies are discussed, based on the available data.
Baum
Antonia L
AL
The International Society for Sport Psychiatry, Chicago, IL, USA. Doctorabaum@verizon.net
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015984:Causality; D015897:Comorbidity; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D003469:Culture; D004300:Doping in Sports / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006716:Homosexuality / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012179:Retirement / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000092864:Suicide Prevention