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ARIZONA Sports psychiatry 

Sports psychiatry seeks to optimize mental health and athletic performance.  I am a competitive amateur mountain bike and gravel racer and previously played semi-professional basketball in Israel and, to me, training and competing is a way of life.  Through this lens, I am better able to understand psychiatric issues in athletes.  

Mountain Biking Adventure

Conditions treated

  • Depression, anxiety, panic attacks, OCD, ADHD, bipolar, addiction, insomnia, autism, etc

  • Dealing with performance anxiety, pressure, focus, confidence, and team dynamics.

  • Overcoming "choking", "the yips", and not living up to potential.

  • Managing mental health aspects of traumatic brain injury.

  • Coping with injury or retirement from competition.ngine Helelptin

Soccer Teams Entering

treatments

  • Psychiatric medications with a focus on issues unique to athletes like effects on performance, weight, sleep, recovery, and body composition.

  • Talk therapy using cognitive-behavioral therapy, visualization, mindfulness, stress-reduction, and finding balance in life and competition.  

  • Nutrition for mental health and athletic performance.

  • Understanding psychiatric medications in the context of performance-enhancing drugs, doping, and prohibited substances.

Basketball Player Focus

FAQS

  • Sports psychiatry vs sports psychology: Psychiatrists are medical doctors that can prescribe medicine, order lab and diagnostic tests, and treat the biological side of mental health as well as provide talk therapy.  Psychologists are not medically trained and focus on talk therapy.  I often work with sports psychologists that perform talk therapy for an athlete while I manage medications and biological aspects of treatment.​

  • ​Length of treatment: This ranges from problem-focused consultations as brief as a couple appointment to life-long management of medications and other issues.  

  • Ages treated:  Athletes from 15-years-old and up.  ​

Flexibility

Who Sports Psychiatry Is For

Sports psychiatry services are designed for athletes at all levels, including:

• Endurance athletes (cycling, running, triathlon)
• Team sport athletes (basketball, soccer, football)
• Competitive and amateur athletes
• Youth and student athletes (16 years old or older)
• Athletes recovering from injury or returning to sport
• Individuals balancing performance, training, and mental health

Whether you are competing at a high level or training for personal goals, mental performance and stability are critical to long-term success.

Conditions & Challenges Treated

Dr. Marku works with athletes experiencing:

• Performance anxiety and competition-related stress
• ADHD and focus challenges in athletes
• Depression and mood-related issues
• Burnout and overtraining mental fatigue
• Confidence and mental blocks (“choking,” loss of edge)
• Injury recovery, identity loss, and return-to-play challenges
• Sleep and recovery issues impacting performance
• Stress related to training, competition, and life balance

Treatment is tailored to both mental health and athletic performance goals.

About Dr. Marku
Athlete Perspective

Empower
Growth

Dr. Karl Marku brings both medical expertise and personal athletic experience to his work.

As a competitive mountain bike racer and former semi-professional basketball player, he understands firsthand the mental demands of training, competition, and performance.

This unique perspective allows him to connect with athletes on a deeper level and provide care that is both clinically effective and performance-focused.

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Sports Psychiatry FAQs

  • What is sports psychiatry?
    Sports psychiatry focuses on the mental health and performance of athletes, combining medical treatment with an understanding of athletic demands.

  • How is sports psychiatry different from sports psychology?
    Psychiatrists are medical doctors who can diagnose conditions and prescribe medication, while psychologists focus on therapy. Sports psychiatry often combines both approaches.

  • Do you work with endurance athletes like cyclists and runners?
    Yes, Dr. Marku works with endurance athletes and understands the unique mental and physical demands of these sports.

  • Do you offer telehealth for athletes in Arizona?
    Yes, telehealth appointments are available throughout Arizona for convenience and accessibility.

  • Can you help with performance anxiety?
    Yes, performance anxiety is one of the most common issues treated and can be managed effectively with the right approach.

  • Do you prescribe medication for athletes?
    When appropriate, medications are used carefully with consideration for performance, recovery, and safety.

  • Do you treat ADHD in athletes?
    Yes, ADHD is common among athletes and can be treated in a way that supports both focus and performance.

  • What age athletes do you work with?
    Dr. Marku works with older adolescents and adult athletes.

  • Can you help with injury recovery and return to sport?
    Yes, mental health support during injury and recovery is a key part of treatment.

  • Do you work with both amateur and competitive athletes?
    Yes, services are tailored to athletes at all levels.

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Work with a psychiatrist who understands athletes firsthand.

Call (480) 481-0858 or contact us online to schedule a sports psychiatry consultation.

Serving Scottsdale, Phoenix, and athletes throughout Arizona via telehealth.

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