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Generalised joint hypermobility and neurodevelopmental traits in a non-clinical adult population

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Martin Glans
Affiliation:
Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden; School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
Susanne Bejerot*
Affiliation:
School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden; University Health Care Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Mats B. Humble
Affiliation:
School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden; University Health Care Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
*
Susanne Bejerot, School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, SE-70182 Örebro, Sweden. E-mail: susanne.bejerot@oru.se
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Abstract

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Background

Generalised joint hypermobility (GJH) is reportedly overrepresented among clinical cases of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developmental coordination disorder (DCD). It is unknown if these associations are dimensional and, therefore, also relevant among non-clinical populations.

Aims

To investigate if GJH correlates with sub-syndromal neurodevelopmental symptoms in a normal population.

Method

Hakim-Grahame's 5-part questionnaire (5PQ) on GJH, neuropsychiatric screening scales measuring ADHD and ASD traits, and a DCD-related question concerning clumsiness were distributed to a non-clinical, adult, Swedish population (n=1039).

Results

In total, 887 individuals met our entry criteria. We found no associations between GJH and sub-syndromal symptoms of ADHD, ASD or DCD.

Conclusions

Although GJH is overrepresented in clinical cases with neurodevelopmental disorders, such an association seems absent in a normal population. Thus, if GJH serves as a biomarker cutting across diagnostic boundaries, this association is presumably limited to clinical populations.

Type
Paper
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2017

Footnotes

Declaration of interest

None.

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