Females with autoimmune diseases 'less likely to be believed' than males and face longer diagnostic delays

Females with autoimmune diseases are significantly more likely to have their conditions misdiagnosed as psychiatric or psychosomatic, according to a study of over 6,600 patients. This international research, led by the University of Cambridge and University of East Anglia, found that 43% of females reported their symptoms were initially attributed to a psychiatric cause, compared to 33% of males.

Females were also 34% more likely to be misdiagnosed as having psychosomatic symptoms. The study revealed that females were nearly 50% more likely to receive a psychiatric misdiagnosis and 75% more likely to be misdiagnosed as having a different physical disease than males. Researchers emphasize the importance of considering autoimmune diseases even when initial diagnoses appear psychiatric or psychosomatic.