Psychopathology Of Joint Hypermobility.

Increasing number of papers pointing to a high prevalence of psychiatric conditions among individuals suffering from the Joint Hypermobility Syndrome or Ehlers Danlos III Hypermobility type, (JHS/EDS-HT) have been published for the past 3 decades. Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric disorders related to JHS, although other conditions such as depression, eating disorders, alcohol and tobacco misuse have also been found. Albeit a simple causal effect can not be found, genetic, autonomic, proprioceptive, exteroceptive and interoceptive mechanisms may underlie such strong association. In order to properly treat patients suffering from JHS/EDS-HT, psychiatric and psychological approaches must be considered, not only to relieve clinical conditions but also to improve abilities to cope through proper drug treatment, psychotherapy and psychological rehabilitation adequately coupled with modern physiotherapy interventions.