Misdiagnosis of Chronic Diseases Causes Permanent Damage

7th March 2025

2 minutes read

Misdiagnosis of Chronic Diseases Causes Permanent Damage

The disbelief one feels upon learning that something is seriously wrong with their body can have devastating and long-lasting consequences. One of the most obvious repercussions is not receiving the proper treatment and support.

A recent study revealed that chronic disease misdiagnosis leads to feelings of shame, self-doubt, and depression. For some, this even extended to suicidal thoughts and attempts.

According to Science Alert, another major consequence is a loss of trust in doctors. This has led some patients to avoid seeking further medical help for fear of being dismissed again.

The study found that these negative emotions and lack of trust often remain just as strong for years after experiencing the feeling that their doctor did not believe their symptoms.

The psychological scars were deep and rarely healed. More than 70% of people who reported receiving an incorrect psychological or psychiatric diagnosis said that this misdiagnosis still troubled them.

Additionally, over 80% stated that it had damaged their self-esteem.

One study participant, who suffered from multiple autoimmune diseases, shared her story, which resonated with many others:

“A doctor told me I was making myself feel pain – and I still can’t forget those words. Being told that I was doing this to myself made me feel deeply anxious and depressed.”

These findings were not just anecdotal. Overall, the study found significantly higher levels of depression and lower overall well-being among individuals who had received incorrect diagnoses related to mental health or psychosomatic illnesses.

The study also highlighted that some doctors are too quick to attribute autoimmune disease symptoms to psychological or psychiatric causes.

Certain research, which may have influenced these diagnostic errors, suggests that a long list of symptoms is a warning sign that the condition is not caused by an actual illness. However, this generalization is dangerously flawed, as an extensive list of symptoms can also be a key indicator of many autoimmune diseases.

Moreover, many autoimmune symptoms are invisible, and there are no clear tests to show doctors how severe they are. Among the terms that patients find particularly dismissive and frustrating when doctors describe their symptoms are “vague” and “nonspecific.”