Anxiety disorders

Anxiety disorders are common in children, and youth athletes experience anxiety symptoms and disorders just as their nonathlete peers do. Many sport- and nonsport-risk factors are associated with anxiety in this population. Anxiety has implications for willingness to continue participating in sports and for sports performance. Specific types of anxiety may have nuanced manifestations in youth athletes. After ruling out nonpsychiatric medical causes of anxiety in athletes, management options include psychotherapy and pharmacology. Treatment should take into account youth athletes' particular psychosocial context and their physiology.