This file gives a brief introduction to depression in athletes its causes and roles of psychiatric social worker in the treatment .

2. Depression is a common and
serious medical illness that
negatively affects how you feel,
the way you think and how you
act. Depression causes
feelings of sadness and/or a
loss of interest in activities you
once enjoyed. It can lead to a
variety of emotional and
physical problems and can
decrease your ability to
function at work and at home.
Depression

3. Emotions Thoughts Physical Behavioral
Symptoms Of Depression
 Sadness
 Anxiety
 Mood
swings
 Irritability
 Guilt
 Anger
 Self
criticism
 Impaired
memory
 Confusion
 Thoughts of
death and
suicide
 Indecisive-
ness
 Chronic fatigue
 Lack of energy
 Sleeping too
much or too
little
 Weight gain or
loss
 Loss of
motivation
 Substance abuse
 Withdrawl
from others
 Changes in
personal
appearance
 Neglect of
responsibili-
ties

4. Criteria for Formal Diagnosis Of Depression
The following criteria are taken from the DSM- IV , The
Diagnostic and Statistical manual of mental disorders 4th edition
published by the American Psychiatric Association 1994.
For a diagnosis of a Major Depression.
1. At least Five of the following symptoms.
2. These symptoms must be present during the same two week
period.
3. These symptoms must represent a change from a previous level
of functioning.

5. Causes Of Depression
There are main factors responsible for depression. are :
1. Genetic factors.
2. Psychological factors.
3. Psychoanalytical theories.
4. Learned theories.

6. General Causes Of Depression In A Sports Person :-
Bullying and mistreatment
within a sport organization.
End of career due to injuries
Family Problems
Continuous failures in game.
Retirement.

7. Individual Athletes Are More Prone To
Depression
• Athletes in individual sports are more prone to depression than those in
team games, according to German research presented at a conference in
Cardiff.
• The research by the Technical University of Munich confirms not just the
loneliness of the long distance runner but a range of other depressive
symptoms among solo sportsmen and women more generally.
• 128 footballers and 71 young athletes were assessed on a depression scale
that measures symptoms such as guilt, sadness and suicidal feelings. It
found that individual athletes showed significantly more signs of such
symptoms than athletes in team sports.

8. Treatment Of Depression In Sports Person And Role Of
Psychiatric Social Worker In That :-
1. Work as medicine.
2. Human relationship as medicine.
3. Physical exercises.
4. Ventilation.
5. The stop technique.
6. Planning positive activities.
7. The crisis plan.
8. Logotherapy- searching for the meaning of life and setting
out goals.

9. Other Treatments :-
1. Antidepressents, such as (italopram (Celexa), escitalopram
(Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), duloxetine (Cymbalta),
venlafaxine (Effexor XR).
2. Psychotherapy.
3. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
4. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

10. Role Of Psychiatric Social Worker In The
Treatment-
1. As a case manager.
2. As an outreach worker.
3. As an educator.
4. As a counsellor.
5. As a rehabilitator.
6. As an awareness generator.
7. As a therapist.
8. As a mediator.
9. As a motivator