Bidirectional association between injuries and mental health symptoms among elite athletes: a systematic review

The authors aimed to investigate the bidirectional relationship between mental health symptoms and injuries among elite athletes. Their systematic review of 25 studies found that mental health symptoms are associated with subsequent injuries and vice versa, although the variability in study designs and definitions limited the ability to confirm this bidirectionality. The findings suggest a need for standardized mental health screening in elite athletes to potentially mitigate injury risks and assess recovery responses.