Women with autoimmune conditions are up to 74% more likely than men to be told their symptoms are psychological or psychosomatic, according to a study from Cambridge University and the University of East Anglia. The research highlights a significant gender divide in the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune conditions, with women facing longer waits for both.

Key Findings

  • Autoimmune conditions affect hundreds of millions globally, causing issues such as fatigue, muscle pain, and rashes.
  • The study included over 6,600 participants, predominantly women from the UK.
  • Almost a quarter of the women reported having autoimmune thyroid disease, including Hashimoto’s disease and Graves’ disease.
  • One in seven women in the study had systemic lupus, while common conditions among men included rheumatoid arthritis and vasculitis.

Misdiagnosis Statistics

  • 43% of women reported being told their condition was due to a psychiatric cause, compared to 33% of men.
  • 34% of women had symptoms misdiagnosed as psychosomatic, versus 22% of men.
  • Overall, women were 46% more likely to report a psychiatric misdiagnosis and 74% more likely to report a psychosomatic misdiagnosis than men.