Women 74% more likely than men to have autoimmune conditions misdiagnosed as psychological, study finds

Women with autoimmune conditions are significantly more likely than men to have their symptoms dismissed as psychological or psychosomatic, leading to prolonged diagnostic delays and treatment gaps, according to a study published in The Lancet eClinicalMedicine journal. The research, involving over 6,600 individuals, indicates that historical gender biases within the medical field may contribute to these disparities.

The study found that women were up to 74% more likely than men to receive a psychosomatic misdiagnosis and 46% more likely to be told their condition was due to a psychiatric cause. These misdiagnoses often resulted in women waiting years for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment, impacting their trust in healthcare providers and their self-esteem, according to lead author Melanie Sloan.

Autoimmune conditions, where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body, can be challenging to diagnose due to overlapping symptoms with other conditions. However, the study suggests that beyond these general diagnostic hurdles, women may face additional disadvantages. Researchers noted that historical biases may persist, leading to females being perceived as less credible and more emotional reporters of symptoms than males.

Patient co-author Shaista Tayabali highlighted the stark differences, stating that while outdated labels like "hysteria" are rarely used, women still often struggle to have their symptoms believed and accurately addressed.