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Updated: Jan 21, 2026
04:42
Developing a Rat Model for Bipolar Disorder
Published on: May 2, 2025
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Embracing complexity: connecting bipolar affective disorder, joint hypermobility and neurodivergence
Emily Bucknill1, Lisa Quadt1, Rebecca Dew2
1Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, https://ror.org/01qz7fr76University of Sussex, Brighton, UK.
The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science
|January 19, 2026
Summary
Joint hypermobility is linked to bipolar disorder, with neurodivergent traits like autism and ADHD mediating this connection. Understanding these interactions is key for personalized psychiatric care.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Genetics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Neurodivergence includes autism, ADHD, and Tourette syndrome.
- Joint hypermobility is associated with neurodivergence and bipolar disorder.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if joint hypermobility predicts bipolar disorder.
- To investigate if neurodivergent characteristics explain the link between joint hypermobility and bipolar disorder.
Main Methods:
- Case-control study with 52 bipolar disorder patients and 54 controls.
- Screening for autism, ADHD, and joint hypermobility.
- Mediation analysis to assess the role of neurodivergence.
Main Results:
- Joint hypermobility significantly predicted bipolar disorder (OR 5.1).
- Autism and ADHD prevalence was higher in the bipolar group (84.6% and 65.4%).
- Autistic and ADHD traits mediated the relationship between joint hypermobility and bipolar disorder.
Conclusions:
- Developmental traits linked to joint hypermobility may explain affective pathophysiology.
- Interactions between physical and neurodivergent traits impact psychiatric illness expression.
- Findings have implications for diagnosis, personalized medicine, and service design.
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