Is the Pain Just Physical? The Role of Psychological Distress, Quality of Life, and Autistic Traits in Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, an Internet-Based Survey in Italy

Overview

Journal Healthcare (Basel)

Specialty Health Services

Date 2021 Nov 27

PMID 34828519

Citations 4

Authors

Matteo Rocchetti

Alessandra Bassotti

Jacopo Corradi

Stefano Damiani

Gianluigi Pasta

Salvatore Annunziata

Viviana Guerrieri

Mario Mosconi

Davide Gentilini

Natascia Brondino

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) have been associated with psychological distress, comorbid psychiatric disorders, and worsening in quality of life (QoL). Among the neurodevelopmental disorders, autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have shown the highest rates of co-occurrence with EDS. The reasons for these associations are unknown and a possible role of pain in increasing the risk of psychiatric disorders in EDS has been suggested. However, a detailed picture of an Italian EDS sample is still lacking.

Methods: We conducted a web-based survey in a third level center for the diagnosis of EDS in northern Italy, to investigate psychological distress, QoL, and the presence of autistic traits. Furthermore, we correlated the psychometric data with some clinical variables.

Results: We observed a high rate of psychological distress with 91% of the responders at high risk of common mental disorders, low QoL, and high prevalence of autistic traits in EDS patients. Specifically, patients lacking a specific genetic test, diagnosed as suspects of EDS appeared to be at greater risk and reported worse psychological QoL. Pain was significantly associated with both psychological distress and worse QoL.

Conclusions: Our findings support the need of further research and of a multi-disciplinary approach to EDS including psychological and psychiatric liaison.

Citing Articles

Self-Perception of Physical Problems in Patients with Non-Vascular Type of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: A Qualitative Study.

Palomo-Toucedo I, Reina-Bueno M, Munuera-Martinez P, Vazquez-Bautista M, Dominguez-Maldonado G, Leon-Larios F Healthcare (Basel). 2024; 12(23).

PMID: 39685014 PMC: 11641481. DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12232392.

The Effectiveness of Compression Garments for Reducing Pain in Non-Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study.

Benistan K, Pontier B, Leblond C, Flageul O, Le Guicher G, Enjalbert M Healthcare (Basel). 2023; 11(13).

PMID: 37444695 PMC: 10340571. DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11131862.

The Benefits of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment on a Patient With Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

Khokhar D, Powers B, Yamani M, Edwards M Cureus. 2023; 15(5):e38698.

PMID: 37292533 PMC: 10246933. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.38698.

Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and disorders of the gastrointestinal tract: What the gastroenterologist needs to know.

Thwaites P, Gibson P, Burgell R J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022; 37(9):1693-1709.

PMID: 35750466 PMC: 9544979. DOI: 10.1111/jgh.15927.

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