title: Benign joint hypermobility syndrome: psychological features and psychopathological symptoms in a sample pain-free at evaluation1.
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.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Psicologia, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università di Bologna. mauro.ercolani@unibo.it
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ercolani
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galvani
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Franchini
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baracchini
authors.forename: Rabih
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chattat
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D035061:Control Groups; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013577:Syndrome