A new study by Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) has found a link between joint hypermobility and depression/anxiety in adolescence.
The report, published in BMJ Open, found that young people with joint hypermobility were more likely to have depression and anxiety, and that psychiatric symptoms were also more severe among hypermobile participants.
Dr Jessica Eccles, Clinical Senior Lecturer BSMS and MQ Arthritis Research UK Fellow and lead author said:
“Many psychiatric problems, including depression and anxiety, start before the age of 25.
"It is therefore important to identify the factors that may increase the risk for these disorders.
"Being aware of the link between hypermobility and depression and anxiety means we can work on developing appropriate and effective treatments.”
Joint hypermobility is caused by a genetic difference in our connective tissue, and because connective tissue is present everywhere in the body, it also influences our fight-or-flight nervous system.
When this part of our nervous system works differently, mental health problems are more likely to develop.
The study, which was funded by the Medical Research Council and by MQ and Versus Arthritis, also found that joint hypermobility was more common in females than males.
However, it was only among males that joint hypermobility at age 14 increased the risk for depression at 18 years old.
Although joint hypermobility is associated with anxiety disorders in adults, this link has not previously been explored in a large sample of children or young people.
Researchers used an existing data base from The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), which collected data from over 14,000 children and their parents or carers.
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