We sought to longitudinally evaluate concussion recovery in collegiate athletes with ADHD who were and were not taking psycho-stimulant medication.

Psycho-stimulant medication is commonly prescribed to individuals with ADHD. Some have posited that psycho-stimulant medications may mitigate impairments following sport-related concussion. However, no studies longitudinally evaluated the influence of psycho-stimulant medications on concussion recovery in collegiate athletes. 

Data from the NCAA-DOD Grand Alliance: Concussion Assessment, Research, and ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉú (CARE) Consortium were used to evaluate athletes with ADHD who were not taking psycho-stimulant medications (Rx-ADHD; n=20), athletes with ADHD who were taking psycho-stimulant medications (Rx+ADHD; n=20), and controls (n=80). Athletes with ADHD were double-matched to controls on biological sex, age, and body mass index. All athletes were assessed prior to their sporting season, 24-48 hours post-injury, and again upon unrestricted return-to-play (RTP). Cognition and clinical symptoms were evaluated using the ImPACT test. 

Athletes in the Rx-ADHD (10.4 ± 1.5 days) and Rx+ADHD (11.9 ± 1.7) groups exhibited prolonged symptom durations compared to controls (4.2 ± .8; p’s ≤ .05). Repeated-measures analyses of covariance (baseline scores = covariate) group × time interactions for multiple variables (p’s ≤.05). Univariate analyses revealed that both groups with ADHD demonstrated poorer verbal memory, and greater total symptoms at 24-48 hours post-injury than controls (p’s ≤ .01). Additionally, athletes in the Rx-ADHD group demonstrated poorer cognitive efficiency at 24-48 hours post-injury, and at RTP than controls (p’s ≤ .05). Lastly, athletes in the Rx+ADHD group demonstrated slower visual motor speed at 24-48 hours post-injury, and at RTP than controls (p’s ≤ .05).

Our findings suggest that following concussion athletes with ADHD may experience longer recovery than controls, regardless of medicated status. Interestingly, athletes with ADHD who were taking medication did not appear to have different recovery time relative to un-medicated athletes with ADHD.