ABSTRACT
Depression in athletes had been neglected for some time in sport psychological research. In recent years, the relevance of this mental disorder has been demonstrated by prominent cases and empirical studies showcasing considerable prevalence rates among athletic samples. Current research tries to identify underlying mechanisms to gain important knowledge on the specific aspects that need to be considered with athletes. This chapter provides an overview on the different prevalence rates in athletes and highlights important aspects for the assessment in athletes. Further, the current state of research on associated variables such as dysfunctional attitude, coping with stress, recovery, or attribution and the aetiology of depressive syndromes is discussed by presenting a sport-specific vulnerability-stress model. Based on this knowledge, practical implications for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment are presented.
