Many of Australia's classical musicians are plagued by depression, anxiety and pain, a study has found.
The University of Sydney study surveyed 377 professional musicians from eight state and opera orchestras.
Half said they suffered moderate to severe performance anxiety, while almost a third had symptoms of depression.
Researcher Dianna Kenny said the competitive nature of classical orchestras, as well as the "constant surveillance" of conductors, kept musicians on edge.
Performers also often had perfectionistic personalities, making their anxiety more intense, Professor Kenny said.
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"They are their own harshest judges," she said.
"They've grown up in this atmosphere that everything has to be perfect to be any good."
The pressure to continue a family's musical legacy could also weigh performers down.
Prof Kenny said one "very, very gifted" musician told her that her parents kept a photo of her as an eight-month-old baby with a violin wedged under her chin.
She later suffered a severe breakdown.
"These are young people who have had their identity foreclosed on them."
Prof Kenny said professional musicians should remember their instrument shouldn't be the sole source of their self-worth.
Published in the online journal, Psychology of Music, the study is the first to explore the link between performance pain, anxiety and depression in classical musicians.
