Effects of Intervention Studies on Subjects with Depression Caused by Sports Injuries: A Systematic Review

Studies in Japan show that sports injuries have a significant impact on athletes not only physically, but also mentally. For instance, a study of university athletes found that 28–35% of them experienced moderate symptoms of depression. Currently, no unified guidelines have been established for the definition of sports injuries and disorders. This systematic review aimed to assess the effectiveness of intervention studies on subjects with depression caused by sports injuries.We searched the Central Journal of Medicine Web, PubMed, CINAHL/ MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library database and finally selected two articles which met the eligibility criteria. Two researchers conducted this review to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention programs. In study no. 1, the intervention was conducted in person. The intervention format was cognitive behavioral therapy-based stress management, a technique that aims to deal appropriately with various stressors and has been shown to be effective in improving stress coping skills, reducing anxiety, and improving performance. In study no. 2, three online videos were used. Video 1 provided information on athletes’ responses to injury and used the integrated responses to injury model. Video 2 discussed help-seeking and social support, explaining the importance of help-seeking behavior and how to do it. Video 3 explained the signs and symptoms of depression. Help-seeking attitudes, help-seeking intentions, and depression literacy were measured before and after the intervention. However, it was not possible to fully verify thesymptoms of depression caused by sports injuries. Therefore, further randomized controlled trials are warranted in the future.

Keywords: Intervention Studies, Orthopedics, Sports Injuries, Depression, Systematic Review