ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Athletes of all ages may be affected by medical and mental health issues. Sports medicine physicians should be familiar with common conditions that may affect the well-being of athletes, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD behaviors have the potential to affect a person's ability to concentrate. It is likely that social and cognitive therapies combined with pharmacotherapy will be the most effective way to treat ADHD in athletes. Medications used for ADHD, especially stimulant types, are known to improve alertness, reaction time, anaerobic performance, and endurance, which would potentially improve athletic performance. Furthermore, stimulant medications may enable student athletes with ADHD to focus on academic studies for longer periods of time, beyond usual levels of fatigue, important for those who may be exhausted after practices and games. The purported performance enhancement effects and potential adverse effects of stimulant medications have prompted many sports governing bodies to ban prescription stimulants or establish strict rules for their use. Athletes taking physician-prescribed stimulants to treat ADHD need to provide the appropriate documentation for approval before competition or risk punitive measures. Physicians should strive to provide a high quality of care to athletes with ADHD through early diagnosis, appropriate and careful multidisciplinary treatment, and complete and timely documentation to facilitate continued sports participation.
Subject(s)
Athletic Performance , Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity , Central Nervous System Stimulants , Sports Medicine , Humans , United States , Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/drug therapy , Athletes/psychology , Central Nervous System Stimulants/therapeutic useABSTRACT
CONTEXT: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common psychiatric condition in the general population, with evidence suggesting that it may be more common among athletes. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Literature searches were performed on PubMed, MEDLINE, and Cochrane databases for the years 2000 to 2016 utilizing the following key search terms: ADHD, ADD, guidelines, diagnosis, athlete, sports, treatment, pharmacotherapy, stimulants, risk, cardiovascular effects, concussion, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). STUDY DESIGN: Clinical review. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4. RESULTS: ADHD exists among athletes at all levels of play, and symptomatology overlaps significantly with that of concussion. Treatment with stimulants has cardiovascular effects and may not be permitted by the athlete's governing body. An athlete's level of competition and individual cardiovascular risk factors may therefore affect medication choices. CONCLUSION: ADHD diagnosis and treatment are paramount to optimal quality of life and functioning in affected individuals. Pharmacologic treatment options should not specifically be avoided in athletes; however, stimulant use is an independent risk factor for heat illness. Concussion, a common athletic injury, may have an altered course in those affected by ADHD, specifically with regard to neurocognitive testing and recovery.
