Anxious symptomatology and joint hypermobility syndrome (JHS) in a group of Chilean undergraduate students

Obejective: To test the relationship between anxiety, joint hypermobility syndrome (JHS) and other associated variables, and identify physical and psychological variables that distinguish individuals with and without JHS. Method: One hundred undergraduate students were assessed using the following instruments: Brighton s criteria for JHS, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), a questionnaire of neuropsychosomatic affections (ALPIN) and a questionnaire of anxiety disorders. Results: Anxiety scores measured by the HADS and STAI (state scale) were significantly higher among participants with JHS. A set of physical and psychological variables turned out to be statistically significant when distinguishing students with or without JHS. Conclusions: Participants with JHS reported relatively higher levels of anxiety than those without JHS in this study. We suggest it is possible to detect the presence of JHS by assessing physical and psychopathological symptoms.