Authors

Dr Heidbreder is the chief scientific officer of Indivior Pharmaceuticals. He is also an affiliate professor at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine.

Dr Hamati is a third-year psychiatry resident at Northwestern University, with a special interest in child and adolescent mental health. His work focuses on the intersection of social media, gaming, and mental health, aiming to develop practical frameworks to address digital influences in clinical practice.

Elizabeth Ballard, PhD

Dr Ballard is an associate scientist, the director of Psychology and Behavior Research, and the director of Predoctoral Training in the Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch at the National Institute of Mental Health.

Dr Howell is a senior neuroscientist at the Centre for Neuro Skills. She is a specialist in brain injury rehabilitation, neurodegenerative disease, and clinical research.

Dr Rosen is an assistant professor of psychiatry and dermatology at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College and a geriatric and collaborative care psychiatrist at Dartmouth Health.

Mena Mirhom, MD, FAPA

Dr Mirhom is past president of the New York County Psychiatric Society, an assistant professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University, a Forbes contributor, and Chief Wellbeing Officer at Athletes for Hope.

Arham Javaid, MD

Dr Javaid is the current chief resident at BronxCare Health System in New York City, with interests in psycho-oncology, consultation-liaison psychiatry, systems of care and resident education.

Latest Article

Sports Psychiatry and ADHD: A Vital Link in Neurodevelopment and Performance

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) is among the most prevalent neurodevelopmental conditions in both childhood and adolescence. ADHD is associated with significant academic, emotional, and functional impairment. In clinical practice, pharmacotherapy and behavioral interventions remain foundational. However, physical activity and structured sports participation represent underutilized, evidence-based adjuncts for symptom regulation, emotional resilience, and long-term health. Meta-analytic evidence demonstrates that exercise improves attention, executive functioning, and core ADHD symptoms. Newly emerging literature highlights the moderating role of family context and access disparities. Sports psychiatry provides a translational framework integrating mental health treatment with performance optimization, injury recovery, and psychosocial development. Adopting a neurodiversity-informed, biopsychosocial lens allows clinicians to leverage movement as a regulatory and strengths-based intervention rather than solely a symptom target. This article synthesizes epidemiologic trends, exercise science, parenting influences, and sports psychiatry principles to offer practical clinical strategies for psychiatrists counseling families and youth. Emphasizing physical activity as a core component of holistic ADHD care may enhance resilience, engagement, and lifelong mental health trajectories.

Dr Aga is a geriatric psychiatrist at the Layton Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Neurology at Oregon Health and Science University.

Dr Noonan is a physician, mental health and wellness coach; author of 5 books on managing mental health and mood disorders with a print and video blog; consultant; group facilitator; and Certified Peer Specialist. She has a unique perspective having lived with a mood disorder and bridges that space between provider and recipient of mental health services, which resonates with many people. Dr Noonan is the inaugural recipient of the national Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance Peer Support Specialist of the Year 2022. Her most recent books, published by Johns Hopkins University Press, include: Take Control of Your Depression: Strategies to help you feel better now (2018); Helping Others with Depression: Words to Say, Things to Do (2020); and Reconnecting after Isolation: Coping with Anxiety, Depression, Grief, PTSD and More (2022).