Bipolar Disorder, Hypermobility and Neurodivergence: The Missing Connection
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Infographic depicting the key findings of joint hypermobility, neurodivergence and brain body connections. BSMS BrJ Psychiatry (2026)
Why Bipolar Disorder, Hypermobility and Neurodivergence are connected
A groundbreaking new study reveals connections between bipolar disorder, joint hypermobility (EDS HSD and associated conditions) and neurodivergence (specifically autism and ADHD). For people with connective tissue differences, this research finally explains why mental health and physical symptoms aren't separate issues.
The Problem: The Problem: Healthcare Silos Fail EDS/Hypermobility Patients :
Right now, healthcare works in separate silos:
Your psychiatrist treats your bipolar disorder or sometimes separately autism or ADHD
Your GP or rheumatologist plus allied professionals handles your joint pain - (ideally)
A different specialist or psychiatrist assesses autism or ADHD
But what if these aren't separate problems at all?
What the Research Found: Bipolar and Hypermobility Link
The researchers compared adults with and without a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, looking at how common joint hypermobility was and screening for autistic and ADHD traits using established questionnaires. This allowed them to explore how physical traits, developmental traits, and mood experiences might overlap.
In this small case control study, people with bipolar disorder were far more likely to have joint hypermobility than those without. They were also far more likely to show strong autistic or ADHD traits, even when they had never been formally identified as neurodivergent.
When the researchers looked more closely, they found that neurodivergence played a key role in explaining the link between hypermobility and bipolar mood patterns.
What the Research Found: Bipolar and Hypermobility Link
In simple terms, this suggests that the connection between hypermobility and bipolar experiences is not random. Instead, it appears to be part of a wider neurodevelopmental picture. Many people with bipolar disorder may also be neurodivergent and physically hypermobile, but these connections are often missed because health services tend to work in separate silos.
Why This Matters for People with EDS and HSD
Think about it: if you see a psychiatrist for mood swings, they're probably not asking about the criteria or symptoms of hypermobility. If you see a rheumatologist for hypermobility, they're likely not screening for autism or ADHD.
Autism, ADHD and Hypermobility: The Neurodivergent Connection
This matters because missed connections can mean missed support. If clinicians only focus on mood without noticing neurodivergent traits or physical differences like hypermobility, people may not get care that truly fits them. The study encourages professionals to be curious about the whole person, including how they think, feel, move and sense their body.
What Integrated Care Could Look Like
Instead of treating:
Body problems → physical health clinic
Brain problems → mental health clinic
Developmental differences → another clinic entirely
We need care that recognises your body/brain are fundamentally connected. Your hypermobility symptoms whether diagnosed or not , your mood patterns and how your brain processes the world might all be part of the same underlying story.
The Real-World Impact
When these connections are missed:
Treatments may not work as well because they're only addressing part of the problem and not holistic.
You might struggle for years without understanding why
You could be told "it's all in your head" when it's actually in your connective tissue too
Or told your physical symptoms are unrelated to your mental health, when they're deeply intertwined
Moving Toward Integrated Body/Brain Healthcare
This research suggests we need to:
Break down the silos between mental and physical healthcare
Train doctors to look for these connections
Screen for all three conditions (hypermobility, neurodivergence, mood disorders) together
Create integrated care pathways where specialists actually talk to each other
KEY FINDINGS: - People with hypermobility are 5x more likely to have bipolar disorder
The authors are careful not to claim strong prediction or causation, and the findings are limited by sample size and self report measures. However, the paper argues that recognising the interplay of physical and neurodevelopmental factors has important implications for diagnosis, personalised care and service design, aligning with wider calls for more integrated, body/brain approaches rather than siloed services.
Your hypermobility, your intense emotions and the way you experience the world might not be separate random issues. They could be different expressions of the same underlying differences in how your body/brain are built.
It's time healthcare and the world caught up with that reality.
Question: Can EDS cause bipolar disorder?
A: Research shows people with hypermobility are 5 times more likely to have bipolar disorder, suggesting a connection through neurodevelopmental pathways
Question: Is there a link between autism and hypermobility?
A: Yes, studies show if you are neurodivergent (autistic +) you are over double likely to have different connective tissue, have j.hypermobility, pain and dysautonomia.
A: Healthcare and education silos mean specialists often miss the bigger picture
Reference: Embracing complexity: connecting bipolar affective disorder, joint hypermobility and neurodivergence. The British Journal of Psychiatry. Published online 2026:1-9. doi:10.1192/bjp.2025.10483 (1)
External Linking Link to authoritative sources:refs
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