Women With Autoimmune Diseases More Likely to Face Psychological Misdiagnosis, Study Finds

Women with autoimmune diseases are more likely than men to have their symptoms attributed to psychiatric or psychological causes and face longer delays in receiving an accurate diagnosis, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of Cambridge and the University of East Anglia (UEA).

The study, titled “Sex and disease differences in patients’ diagnostic experiences in autoimmune diseases: an international cross-sectional study,” published in The Lancet's eClinicalMedicine, analysed the reported diagnostic experiences of 6,607 people living with autoimmune conditions. The findings have renewed concerns about gender disparities in healthcare and whether women's physical symptoms are being taken as seriously as men's.

Women Report Higher Rates of Psychiatric Misdiagnosis 

The study found that 43% of women said their symptoms had previously been attributed to psychiatric causes, compared with 33% of men. Meanwhile, 34% of women reported being told their symptoms were psychosomatic, compared with 22% of men.

Researchers suggested that gender stereotypes and assumptions about women's emotional responses may contribute to these differences. However, the survey findings do not establish the reasons behind every reported misdiagnosis.

Gender Gap in Diagnosis Times 

Women most commonly reported waiting one to two years between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis. Men, by comparison, most commonly reported receiving a diagnosis within three months.

Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues. Conditions such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis can cause symptoms including fatigue, pain and sleep disturbances, making diagnosis challenging.

Call for Better Diagnosis

Dr Melanie Sloan of UEA’s Norwich Medical School and the University of Cambridge said autoimmune diseases can cause symptoms that are difficult to explain, sometimes delaying diagnosis for months or years.

Researchers said persistent physical symptoms should be assessed carefully before being attributed to psychological causes. They also stressed that autoimmune and mental health conditions can coexist, and that psychiatric symptoms should not automatically rule out an underlying physical illness.

The findings add to concerns about gender inequality in healthcare and highlight the importance of listening to patients, reconsidering initial diagnoses when necessary and ensuring that women receive timely, appropriate medical assessment.

Study Highlights Gender Gap in Healthcare 

Although further research is needed to establish why these differences occur, the findings highlight the importance of treating persistent symptoms seriously, regardless of a patient's sex, and ensuring that psychological explanations do not prematurely rule out physical disease.