- Front Matter
- 10.1136/bjsports-2025-110973
Pressure points: ethical dilemmas in sports mental health research involving athletes.
- May 05, 2026
- British journal of sports medicine
- Malte Christian Claussen + 7 more +7
Publications from 2021 to 2026
Showing 10 of 20 papers
Pressure points: ethical dilemmas in sports mental health research involving athletes.
The genome sequence of the Cranberry Fritillary, Boloria aquilonaris (Stichel, 1908) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae).
We present a genome assembly from a female specimen of Boloria aquilonaris (Cranberry Fritillary; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Nymphalidae). The assembly contains two haplotypes with total lengths of 415.84 megabases and 390.14 megabases. Most of haplotype 1 (99.86%) is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the W and Z sex chromosomes. Haplotype 2 was assembled to scaffold level. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled, with a length of 15.17 kilobases.
Read moreConceptualisation of Informal Coercion in Inpatient Psychiatry: A Scoping Review.
Coercion in mental health care is complex and controversial, often seen as a potential human rights violation. Coercion can manifest in various forms and is subject to ethical and legal judgement. Formal coercion includes measures restricting movement or providing treatment without consent. Informal coercion involves the use of communication and subtle interventions by mental health professionals to control, influence, manipulate or pressure patients, aiming to elicit specific behaviours and shape their decisions. Informal coercion often occurs in psychiatric care. However, it is not legislated; it is not discussed in clinical guidelines, and it is not formalised or documented. This scoping review aims to map the current understanding of informal coercion in inpatient psychiatry. Six databases were searched for studies examining definitions and conceptualisations of informal coercion. Data extraction included a summary and comparison of study characteristics, definitions and conceptualisations followed by thematic analysis using Braun and Clarke's approach. Twenty-nine articles were included in the synthesis. The analysis led to the proposal of a definition of informal coercion and identified three key themes: first, the professionals' intentions, with attributes identified as patient protection or self-protection; second, the methods used, including the attributes communication patterns, 'legal' coercion, deception, manipulation and abuse of power; and third, contextual factors leading to informal coercion, with attributes such as cultural adaptation, rule conformity and professionals' attitudes and skills. This study provides a conceptualisation for understanding informal coercion in inpatient psychiatry, highlighting its complexity and the need for ethical and professional reflection. Developing clear guidelines and standards is essential for protecting patient autonomy and dignity while enabling effective therapeutic interventions. TRAIL REGISTRATION: The research protocol was registered in the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/ck3et).
Read moreFitness profile and training of Special Operation Forces: a comparison with sports athletes.
Tactical athletes of Special Operations Forces personnel face diverse, high-risk demands-from explosive power actions and maximal strength tasks to prolonged endurance efforts and rapid decision making under stress. This study aimed to develop a multidimensional fitness profile for these tactical athletes by defining Critical Success Factors and translating them into measurable performance indicators, then comparing Swiss Special Operations Forces operators and candidates with sports athletes. In a cross sectional, observational design, 262 male participants completed a tailored battery of laboratory and field tests: 69 Special Operations Forces operators, 175 Special Operations Forces candidates, and 18 athletes from disciplines such as decathlon, Thai boxing, wrestling, and ice hockey. Practitioner interviews established key mission critical factors, which were operationalized into tests of reaction time, power, strength, severe intensity muscular and cardiopulmonary work capacity, and aerobic endurance. To evaluate group and unit effects, we compared two Bayesian linear regression models: a baseline model (m₀) and a model (m₁) that included group as a fixed factor. Evidence for a group effect was quantified by the Bayes Factor and Probability of direction, where >90% is considered equal to an alpha level of 0.05, thus a non-negligible effect. Weekly training volume averaged 8.5 h for operators, 6.9 h for candidates, and 9.5 h for athletes. SOF operators and candidates demonstrated fitness levels comparable to sports athletes. Mean jumping distance was 2.43 m, relative hand-grip strength 1.51 kg/kg body mass, deadlift with 100 kg was 20 repetitions, and maximal oxygen uptake measured 54 ml/kg/min. Candidates recorded faster computer based reaction times than operators, while operators outperformed candidates and athletes in a close-quarters combat simulation. Both candidates and operators completed fewer 100 kg deadlift repetitions compared to the mean of the athletes. Swiss Special Operations Forces operators and candidates demonstrate fitness profiles on par with sports athletes across multiple domains, validating their designation as tactical athletes. The normative values and test battery offer a tool for identifying individual strengths and weaknesses, guiding targeted training programs, and informing selection and readiness assessments. Future research should explore longitudinal interventions and predictive models of operational performance.
Read moreThe ISSP Scientific Committee: Promoting scholarly sports psychiatry internationally
Beiträge aus der Praxis zum Themenschwerpunkt „Maskulinitäten und Sucht“
Mental health and substance use among elite para-athletes: An cross-sectional survey
Objective The scientific studies on the mental health and substance use among elite para-athletes are rare (Lardi et al., in preparation; Lüdi et al., 2023). However, the shows similarities as well as differences to the regular elite athletes’ populations (Rice et al., 2016; Swartz et al., 2019). The aim of this study was to investigate the mental health and substance use of para-athletes (PAs) from their perspective, in order to gain an overview of the situation in elite para-sport and to potentially create a basis for prevention campaigns and, if necessary, interventions. Methodology An online survey (SoSciSurvey) was used to create a questionnaire, which was translated into eight languages to reach PAs internationally. In addition to socio-demographic and sports-specific (Para-Sport, PS) variables, psychological and physical factors, as well as substance use, were assessed using standardized instruments. Results (CAVE: at the time at submission preliminary since the survey ends by the end of November/The final results will be presented at the congress): The PAs (N = 82) showed different prevalences regarding mental disorders compared to data from the general population and regular elite athletes, with disorder-specific deviations. There were significant gender differences in psychological distress (K-10, p < .001), depression severity (PHQ-9, p < .001), and anxiety severity (GAD-7, p < .001). The majority of PAs reported good or very good mental (69.51%) and physical (64.63%) health, and these results significantly correlated (p < .001) with a strong effect size. PAs were more likely to disclose and seek support in professional than in private settings. 51.22% of the PAs felt disadvantaged in everyday life, and in PS, it was 29.27%. The BA and K-10 did not correlate significantly (p > .05), but there was a significant correlation (p < .001) between discrimination in PS and the K-10. The results of discrimination in everyday life and in PS both significantly correlated with the WHODAS-12 (p < .01, and p < .001), with a weak and moderate effect size, respectively. Regarding substance use, 41.46% of PAs reported alcohol, 7.32% nicotine, and 8.54% cannabis use. The AUDIT-C did not significantly correlate with the K-10 or the WHODAS-12 (p > .05), and there was no significant gender difference (AUDIT-C, p > .05). Conclusions Based on the results, prevention should occur in the disorder-specific area and refer to the professional services, social support, focusing more on discrimination, and include substance use (alcohol and cannabis). It is important to consider that PAs are a vulnerable population and research gaps still exist.
Read moreInterdisciplinary and Psychiatric Treatment of Anabolic Androgenic Steroids Users.
The prevalence of anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS; anabolic steroids) use in recreational sports is underestimated. Due to the influence of social media, an increase in AAS use in recreational sports and in the general population is to be expected. AAS use is associated with significant physical and mental health consequences, and the psychiatric consequences include the risk of developing addictive behaviour. The widespread stigmatization of AAS use also by professionals often undermines users' trust in physicians and drives them into the arms of so-called "gurus." The tightening of anti-doping practices in sports and an exclusively prohibitive stance have so far failed to convincingly curb the problem in recreational sports. Harm reduction strategies could help patients to get the help they need from primary care providers.
Read moreComparison between incus short process and long process coupling of the vibrant soundbridge in human temporal bones
Objective The Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) is one of the most widely used implantable hearing devices. It consists of a vibrating floating mass transducer (FMT) that is connected to a middle ear structure. The standard coupling devices for sensorineural hearing loss are short process (SP) or long process (LP) couplers. Design and study sample This study directly compared the electro-mechanical performance of the SP- and LP-coupled FMT of the VSB in the same temporal bone specimen (n = 10). We measured velocity magnitudes and total harmonic distortions (THD) of the stapes (ST) and the round window (RW) using laser Doppler Vibrometry (LDV). Results Comparison shows a maximally 10 dB higher magnitude for the LP coupler at ST and RW for frequencies below 600 Hz, whereas the SP coupler shows a maximally 20 dB higher magnitude at the ST and RW for frequencies above 600 Hz. THD show similar behaviour with less distortion at 500 Hz for the LP coupler and less distortions for the SP coupler in higher frequencies. Conclusions Our experiments showed that the SP coupling may be mechanically favourable, in terms of magnitude and distortion, for the transmission of FMT vibrations at higher frequencies.
Read moreBiomarkers for the diagnosis of cognitive impairment - Recommendations from the Swiss Memory Clinics
Established cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers allow for earlier and more accurate etiological diagnosis of cognitive impairment. Information and counselling are needed both before and after biomarker-supported diagnosis. The procedures for diagnostic lumbar punctures and pre-analytical sample handling should follow published consensus recommendations. The results must be interpreted in the context of the other available history information and assessments. Blood-based biomarkers and other non-invasive markers are expected to become available for clinical practice soon. Consequently, a broader usage of biomarkers is expected and may accelerate the development of individually tailored prevention and treatment approaches. This article provides the recommendations of the Swiss Memory Clinics for the use of biomarkers in clinical practice.
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