Association between joint hypermobility syndrome and panic disorder: a case-control study.
BACKGROUND
A significant association between joint hypermobility syndrome (JHS) and panic disorder was observed in a sample of rheumatology outpatients.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess whether JHS is more frequent in panic-disorder than in control subjects.


METHODS
The authors conducted a case-control study comparing 55 untreated patients with panic disorder and three matched-control groups: psychiatric patients, fibromyalgia patients, and healthy persons.


RESULTS
JHS was more frequent among panic-disorder than among psychiatric patients, the healthy group, or the fibromyalgia group. In the panic-disorder group, there was a significant correlation between severity of JHS and anxiety.


CONCLUSIONS
The strong association between JHS and panic disorder points to a genetic association. There is also a possibility that JHS and mitral valve prolapse, another condition frequently associated with panic disorder, share a common pathophysiological mechanism.
García Campayo
Javier
J
Dept. of Psychiatry, Miguel Servet University Hospital, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain. jgarcamp@arrakis.es
Asso
Elena
E
Alda
Marta
M
Andres
Eva Maria
EM
Sobradiel
Natalia
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008945:Mitral Valve Prolapse / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult