Hashimoto Ritsuko, Yamaguchi Tatsuya, Suzuki Kanami, Sekiguchi Kuniko, Tanaka Miho, Eda Kaori, Tomori Anna, Kamahara Kazuyuki, Dohi Michiko, Machidori Koji, Nakajima Kohei
Sports Medicine, Japan Institute of Sports Sciences, Tokyo, JPN.
Sports Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo, JPN.
Cureus. 2025 Jun 23;17(6):e86583. doi: 10.7759/cureus.86583. eCollection 2025 Jun.
Background and objective Reports on the mental health of Japanese athletes have been increasing in recent years, although many focus on specific sports, such as rugby. In this study, we hypothesized that the mental health of elite Japanese athletes was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, leading to a rise in mental health issues. The aim of this study was to clarify the impact of these events on the mental health of elite athletes and to identify trends and characteristics of those who sought care at the clinic. Methods We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional observational study using medical records from the Sports Clinic at the Japan Institute of Sports Sciences (JISS), covering the period from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2022. All athletes who received psychiatric or counseling services during this time were included. There were no exclusion criteria or age restrictions. Participant characteristics were analyzed using the chi-square test and Fisher's exact test for categorical variables and the Welch t-test for continuous variables. All tests were two-tailed, with a significance threshold set at p < 0.05. Results A total of 85 athletes (23 men and 62 women) received treatment during the study period. Most of the patients visiting the mental health department at the JISS Sports Clinic were female athletes involved in individual sports, particularly in record-oriented disciplines. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of athletes seeking mental health support has increased significantly. Reasons for consultation included both psychological issues, such as sleep disorders, and physical symptoms, such as gastrointestinal problems. Conclusions Mental health issues among elite Japanese athletes often manifest as psychosomatic symptoms. Recognizing this pattern is important for sports physicians, especially those without psychiatric training, and can support the development of effective care systems tailored to athletes' needs.
背景与目的 近年来，关于日本运动员心理健康的报道不断增加，尽管许多报道聚焦于特定运动项目，如橄榄球。在本研究中，我们假设日本精英运动员的心理健康受到新冠疫情和2020年东京奥运会的影响，导致心理健康问题增多。本研究的目的是阐明这些事件对精英运动员心理健康的影响，并确定在诊所寻求治疗的运动员的趋势和特征。方法 我们进行了一项回顾性横断面观察研究，使用日本体育科学研究所（JISS）体育诊所2019年1月1日至2022年12月31日期间的医疗记录。纳入在此期间接受精神科或咨询服务的所有运动员。没有排除标准和年龄限制。分类变量使用卡方检验和Fisher精确检验，连续变量使用Welch t检验分析参与者特征。所有检验均为双侧检验，显著性阈值设定为p < 0.05。结果 在研究期间，共有85名运动员（23名男性和62名女性）接受了治疗。在JISS体育诊所心理健康科就诊的大多数患者是从事个人运动项目的女运动员，特别是在以创纪录为导向的项目中。自新冠疫情爆发以来，寻求心理健康支持的运动员人数显著增加。咨询原因包括心理问题，如睡眠障碍，以及身体症状，如胃肠道问题。结论 日本精英运动员的心理健康问题常表现为身心症状。认识到这种模式对体育医生很重要，尤其是那些没有精神科培训背景的医生，并且有助于开发符合运动员需求的有效护理系统。
