title: Correlates of physical activity with intrusive thoughts, worry and impulsivity in adults with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a cross-sectional pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical exercise is known to produce numerous psychological beneficial effects in healthy and clinical populations. Nevertheless, little is known about the relationship between exercise and ADhD symptoms, let alone among adults with ADhD. this study examines the association between exercise and three ADhD symptoms: (1) behavioral impulsivity; (2) intrusive unwanted thoughts and (3) worry. the latter two are cognitive facets of anxiety, a prominent symptom of ADhD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Physical activity was measured using a selfreport questionnaire. thirty participants with a diagnosis of ADhD were divided into two groups: Participants engaging in frequent aerobic activity ("high activity" group), and participants engaging in non-frequent physical activity ("low activity" group).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adults with ADhD engaging in frequent aerobic physical activity report significantly less behavioral impulsivity and experience significantly less worrisome and intrusive thoughts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results reflect an association between physical activity and reduced symptoms of impulsivity and intrusive and worrisome thoughts in an adult ADhD sample. the results of this pilot study may encourage further investigations emphasizing the causal link between physical activity and ADhD symptoms. Suggested underlying neurobiological mechanisms, clinical implications and limitations are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Amitai
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abramovitch
authors.forename: Gil
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Goldzweig
authors.forename: Avraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schweiger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D055815:Young Adult