Health · Medical Research · 8 hrs ago
Women with autoimmune conditions more likely to receive psychological misdiagnoses
A study by researchers at the University of Cambridge and University of East Anglia found differences in how doctors handle autoimmune symptoms in women and men.
It included more than 6,600 people with autoimmune conditions, most of them women from the UK.
Autoimmune conditions occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body and can cause symptoms such as fatigue, pain and rashes.
Women were 74% more likely to report a psychosomatic misdiagnosis and 46% more likely to report a psychiatric misdiagnosis than men.
Women also reported longer waits: the most common time to diagnosis was one to two years for women, compared with less than three months for men.
The researchers said symptoms may be labelled psychological too soon, and noted that historical biases may affect how women’s accounts are judged.
The study highlights a risk of delayed treatment and lasting harm to patients’ trust in doctors and their own self-esteem.
A study suggests women with autoimmune conditions are more likely than men to be told their symptoms are psychological or psychosomatic.
Women were 74% more likely to report a psychosomatic misdiagnosis and 46% more likely to report a psychiatric misdiagnosis.
In the study, 34% of women and 22% of men said their symptoms had been misdiagnosed as psychosomatic.
Women also reported longer waits for diagnosis, most commonly one to two years, while the most frequently reported time for men was less than three months.
Researchers said historical medical biases may contribute to women being seen as less credible or more emotional when describing symptoms.
- Who
- Women with autoimmune conditions, compared with men.
- What
- A study found women were more likely to report psychological or psychosomatic misdiagnoses and longer waits for diagnosis.
- When
- Published on 13 October 2026.
- Where
- The study included more than 6,600 people, most of them female and from the UK.
- Why
- The researchers said historical medical biases may persist, including viewing women as less credible or more emotional when reporting symptoms.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Women most commonly reported waiting one to two years from symptom onset to diagnosis, while men most commonly reported less than three months.
The Guardian reported on the study, published in Lancet eClinicalMedicine.
- Study size
- More than 6,600 people with autoimmune conditions
- Psychiatric misdiagnosis
- 46% more likely among women than men
- Psychosomatic misdiagnosis
- 74% more likely among women than men
- Psychosomatic symptoms misdiagnosed
- 34% of women; 22% of men
- Most common reported time to diagnosis
- Women: one to two years; men: less than three months
- Study publication
- Lancet eClinicalMedicine
What people are saying
The damage caused to women by these types of misdiagnosis can be very long lasting in terms of trusting doctors and their own self-esteem.
psychological or mental health explanations can be given too soon
broader diagnostic challenges affect both sexes
females may face additional disadvantages
Sources
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