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
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 reas...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/9/11/1472 |
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| author | Matteo Rocchetti Alessandra Bassotti Jacopo Corradi Stefano Damiani Gianluigi Pasta Salvatore Annunziata Viviana Guerrieri Mario Mosconi Davide Gentilini Natascia Brondino |
| author_facet | Matteo Rocchetti Alessandra Bassotti Jacopo Corradi Stefano Damiani Gianluigi Pasta Salvatore Annunziata Viviana Guerrieri Mario Mosconi Davide Gentilini Natascia Brondino |
| author_sort | Matteo Rocchetti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:27:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-81000acf99744c48b0f29539f2a60da5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9032 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:27:37Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-81000acf99744c48b0f29539f2a60da52023-11-22T23:31:23ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322021-10-01911147210.3390/healthcare9111472Is the Pain Just Physical? The Role of Psychological Distress, Quality of Life, and Autistic Traits in Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome, an Internet-Based Survey in ItalyMatteo Rocchetti0Alessandra Bassotti1Jacopo Corradi2Stefano Damiani3Gianluigi Pasta4Salvatore Annunziata5Viviana Guerrieri6Mario Mosconi7Davide Gentilini8Natascia Brondino9Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, ItalyRegional Center of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, IRCCS Ca’ Granda Foundation, 20122 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Fondazione Policlinico IRCCS San Matteo, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Fondazione Policlinico IRCCS San Matteo, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Fondazione Policlinico IRCCS San Matteo, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Fondazione Policlinico IRCCS San Matteo, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, ItalyBackground: 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/9/11/1472Ehler–Danlosautismanxietydepressionquality of lifepain |
| spellingShingle | Matteo Rocchetti Alessandra Bassotti Jacopo Corradi Stefano Damiani Gianluigi Pasta Salvatore Annunziata Viviana Guerrieri Mario Mosconi Davide Gentilini Natascia Brondino 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 Healthcare Ehler–Danlos autism anxiety depression quality of life pain |
| title | 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 |
| title_full | 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 |
| title_fullStr | 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 |
| title_full_unstemmed | 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 |
| title_short | 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 |
| title_sort | 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 |
| topic | Ehler–Danlos autism anxiety depression quality of life pain |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/9/11/1472 |
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