• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.95-102
• /
• 2004

Backgrounds: It was thought that sport was related with mentality. Compared to psychology, psychiatry has so far paid rather little attention to athletes. In this overview, I attempted to introduce the ideas of various observers of sports with the view of clinical psychiatry and summarized basic principle role of psychiatrist. Results and Discussions : To understand the athletic frame of mind, it is helpful to observe athletes in their psychologic development and when we do so we can quickly see trends that are not apparent by observing mature athletes alone. Psychobiology of sport would discuss some of the endogenous neurochemicals(hormone, neurotransmitter) that may be part and parcel of the athlete's psychiatric status. The psychological problems that frequently interfere with training and competition may be divided into five categories 1) choke, 2) slump, 3) injury, 4) interpersonal problem, 5) training dilemma. Psychiatric problem also arise in athletes like general people. various method for psychiatric patients like psychotherapy, group therapy, family systems perspective, and pharmacotherapy could been applied to sports psychiatry. Conclusions Although the contribution of sports psychiatry to sport is clinical one, psychiatrist's interest in role and conflict of athlete would enhance the molding of humanistic athletes who enjoy their life and sports.