Diagnostic effectiveness of the Sport Mental Health Assessment Tool 1 supplemented with a brief clinical intake interview in a cohort of Polish elite Olympic athletes

Abstract

Objective: Several studies have used the Sport Mental Health Assessment Tool 1 (SMHAT-1) among athletes but none have combined SMHAT-1 with a subsequent clinical intake interview. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic effectiveness of SMHAT-1 supplemented by a brief, in-person clinical intake interview in evaluating the prevalence of mental health concerns in elite athletes.

Methods: Sections 1 and 2 from SMHAT-1 were administered in person during the routine biannual medical check-up for Olympic athletes at the National Centre for Sports Medicine in Poland. Immediately after completing the measures, all athletes were interviewed by qualified psychologists who evaluated their mental health and provided recommendations.

Results: A total of 1121 elite athletes (545 female, 576 male) aged 18-53 (M=24.39, SD=5.09) were evaluated 2-8 months before the 2024 Paris Olympic Games; 72.4% scored above the triage threshold and 51% were positively screened in SMHAT-1's section 2. Based on the subsequent mental health evaluation, only 9.5% showed signs of persistent mental health concerns and required referral to a mental health specialist. In 24.2%, their distress levels/symptoms were assessed as occasional and normal in relation to demands, and they underwent a psychoeducational intervention or were advised to consult a sports psychologist. Female athletes scored significantly higher in most questionnaires.

Conclusion: SMHAT-1 proved a useful addition to the routine medical check-ups for elite athletes. Extending SMHAT-1 with a brief clinical intake interview substantially elevated the efficacy of the mental health evaluation, with an additional benefit of raising mental health literacy.

Keywords: Anxiety; Depression; Psychiatry; Psychology; Sleep.