BENIGN JOINT HYPERMOBILITY SYNDROME: PSYCHOLOGICAL FEATURES AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS IN A SAMPLE PAIN-FREE AT EVALUATION
Abstract
30 subjects with BJHS (Hypermobile) (M age = 32.3 yr., SD = 10.4) and two control groups, 25 healthy subjects (Healthy) (M age = 33.9 yr., SD = 9.3) and 30 fibromyalgic patients (Fibromyalgic) (M age = 32.2 yr., SD=9.4), were given the Symptom Checklist-90-R, the Illness Behavior Questionnaire, the Female Functional Symptoms Frequency (FFF) and the Male Functional Symptoms Frequency (MFF), derived from the DSM-III-R, evaluating functional somatic disturbances and their intensity, and the Symptom Questionnaire. The mean scores for the Hypermobile group showed significant psychological distress and increased frequency and intensity of somatic symptoms. Scores on Anxiety and Somatic Symptoms, General Hypochondriasis, Disease Conviction, Affective Disturbance, Denial, and Irritability were significantly higher in the Hypermobile than in the Healthy group. Elevated scores were found for the Fibromyalgic group on the Illness Behavior Questionnaire subscales for Psychological vs Somatic Focus, Disease Affirmation, and Discriminating Factors when compared with the Hypermobile group. Considerable emotional symptoms were detected which should not be underestimated by physicians when establishing an integrated biopsychosocial therapy.
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Adults with asymptomatic GJH have higher anxiety scores than controls without asymptomatic GJH.
“Adults with asymptomatic GJH had higher anxiety scores42,43 and more specific anxiety as state, trait anxiety, social anxiety, and severity of fears than controls without asymptomatic GJH.33, 34, 35, 36”
From Role of Anxiety in Individuals with Generalized Joint Hypermobility: A Systematic Review (2025) · cites this paper as [42]
Psychological distress including anxiety is significantly higher in adults with asymptomatic GJH compared to healthy controls.
“Psychological distress including anxiety was significantly higher within adults with asymptomatic GJH compared to healthy controls but did not exceed the cutoff for pathological levels of psychological distress including anxiety.42”
From Role of Anxiety in Individuals with Generalized Joint Hypermobility: A Systematic Review (2025) · cites this paper as [42]
Psychological distress including anxiety in adults with asymptomatic GJH does not exceed the cutoff for pathological levels.
“Psychological distress including anxiety was significantly higher within adults with asymptomatic GJH compared to healthy controls but did not exceed the cutoff for pathological levels of psychological distress including anxiety.42”
From Role of Anxiety in Individuals with Generalized Joint Hypermobility: A Systematic Review (2025) · cites this paper as [42]
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- Authors
- Ercolani, M., Galvani, M., Franchini, C., Baracchini, F., & Chattat, R.
- Affiliations
- University of Bologna (IT)
- Corresponding author
- Ercolani, Mauro
- ORCID
- Chattat, Rabih
- Venue
- Perceptual and Motor Skills
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2008-08
- Volume
- 107
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 246-256
- ISSN
- 0031-5125 (ISSN-L)
- 1558-688X
- OpenAlex
- W2077637924
- Cited by
- 28
- References
- 32
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 1.17
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Perceptual and Motor Skills (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Archivio istituzionale della ricerca (Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Connective tissue disorders research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research
- Keywords
- benign joint hypermobility syndrome, psychological distress, psychiatric symptoms, fibromyalgia, somatic symptoms, functional somatic symptoms, anxiety, health anxiety, disease conviction, emotional symptoms
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Diagnosis, Differential, Disability Evaluation, Female, Fibromyalgia, Health Status, Humans, Italy, Joint Instability, Male, Middle Aged, Pain, Personality Inventory, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Psychometrics, Surveys and Questionnaires, Severity of Illness Index, Sex Factors, Somatoform Disorders, Stress, Psychological, Syndrome, Control Groups, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
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