A study conducted by the University of Cambridge and the University of East Anglia has found that women with autoimmune conditions are significantly more likely than men to be told their symptoms are psychological. Specifically, women are up to 74% more likely to receive a psychosomatic misdiagnosis and nearly 46% more likely to be given a psychiatric misdiagnosis than their male counterparts.

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The research indicates a stark gender disparity in the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune disorders, which affect about one in ten people globally. Many of these conditions lead to symptoms such as fatigue, muscle pain, and rashes. The study analyzed responses from over 6,600 patients, primarily women from the UK, revealing that a considerable portion had their symptoms misattributed.

Lead author Melanie Sloan noted that the long wait for a correct diagnosis can adversely affect women's trust in medical professionals and impact their self-esteem. Many women faced delays of one to two years in receiving a diagnosis, while men typically reported diagnosis times of less than three months.

Notably, nearly 43% of women in the study stated they had been told their symptoms were due to a psychiatric cause, compared to 33% of men. Additionally, 34% of women reported their symptoms were diagnosed as psychosomatic, as opposed to 22% of men. The study highlighted that systemic lupus, autoimmune thyroid disease, and other disorders were prevalent among female participants, while males frequently reported rheumatoid arthritis and related conditions.

The researchers emphasized that although broader diagnostic challenges affect all patients, women may face unique disadvantages due to longstanding biases in the medical field that question the credibility of female patients. They urged healthcare professionals to refrain from prematurely attributing symptoms to psychological causes, underscoring the importance of validating patients' experiences.

Co-author and patient Shaista Tayabali remarked on the persistent gender bias in diagnostic practices, stating that although outdated labels like hysteria are not commonly used today, women still struggle to have their symptoms taken seriously.