Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder in Athletes

Collin Leibold; Racheal M Smetana; Siobhán M Statuta

doi:10.1016/j.csm.2023.06.013

Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder in Athletes

Clin Sports Med. 2024 Jan;43(1):145-157. doi: 10.1016/j.csm.2023.06.013. Epub 2023 Jul 24.

Authors

Collin Leibold¹, Racheal M Smetana², Siobhán M Statuta³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Family Medicine, University of Virginia, 1215 Lee Street, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA. Electronic address: CML3SC@uvahealth.org.
² Psychiatry & Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia Health, PO Box 800203, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA.
³ Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship, Family Medicine and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, UVA Sports Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, PO Box 800729, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0729, USA.

PMID: 37949508
DOI: 10.1016/j.csm.2023.06.013

Abstract

ADHD is common among the general population and may be slightly more common among athletes. Diagnosis requires six or more DSM-5-TR symptoms to have been present prior to age 12 and to have an effect on functioning in multiple settings. Different sporting organizations have varying requirements for documentation when making a diagnosis. Stimulant medications are the mainstay of treatment; psychosocial interventions, exercise, and non-stimulant medications can serve as adjuncts. Future directions in research on ADHD in sports include determining whether ADHD is overrepresented among the population of elite athletes and parsing out the relationship between ADHD and concussion risk and recovery.

Keywords: ADHD; Athletes; Mental health; Sports medicine.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Athletes / psychology
Attention
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity* / diagnosis
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity* / epidemiology
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity* / therapy
Brain Concussion* / diagnosis
Child
Humans
Sports*