Chronic Diseases Misdiagnosed As Psychosomatic Can Lead To Long-Term Damage To Physical & Mental Well-Being

Health care consumers who reported that their autoimmune disease (such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and vasculitis) was misdiagnosed as psychosomatic or a mental health condition were more likely to experience higher levels of depression and anxiety, and lower mental well-being than those who did not receive a misdiagnosis. More than 80% of those who received a misdiagnosis said it had damaged their self-worth, and 72% reported that the misdiagnosis still upset them, often even decades later.

Autoimmune rheumatic diseases are chronic inflammatory conditions that affect the immune system and can damage organs and tissues throughout the body. They . . .