Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders in Elite Athletes
In elite athletes the specific subform of performance anxiety disorder could be diagnosed, although it is not yet included in the diagnostic manuals.
Abstract
Anxiety is in principle a normal and (often) helpful emotion in humans and animals. However, anxiety can get excessive and be impairing and disabling. If anxiety is excessive in intensity and duration, occurs in actually non-dangerous situations, uncontrollable, and impairs actions, an anxiety disorder is typically diagnosed [2]. In the general population, the following anxiety disorders are diagnosed (decreasing frequency): specific phobias, social anxiety disorders, panic disorder with/without agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder [3,4]. In elite athletes the specific subform of performance anxiety disorder could be diagnosed, although it is not yet included in the diagnostic manuals [5,6].