A growing number of patients suffering from Long COVID are being misdiagnosed with psychological disorders, leading some to be admitted to psychiatric wards despite having a physical, chronic illness. Erin, a 43-year-old from Pennsylvania, is one such patient who, in late 2022, was admitted to a psychiatric hospital for six weeks after being unable to get answers for her debilitating symptoms. Despite not having an eating disorder or anxiety, she was given both diagnoses.
Erin’s health deteriorated after she contracted COVID-19, and despite months of suffering from pain, fatigue, heart palpitations, vertigo, and weight loss, her doctors could not pinpoint a cause. After further complications and being hospitalized, Erin was still without an explanation for her symptoms. When her doctors suggested discharging her, she became so overwhelmed by her condition that she requested psychiatric help, fearing she couldn’t manage the pain at home. This resulted in her being admitted to the psychiatric ward.
Erin’s story is not unique. Experts warn that emergency rooms and psychiatric wards have become an unfortunate destination for many Long COVID sufferers. Dr. David Putrino, a Long COVID researcher at Mount Sinai Health System in New York, states that patients with complex conditions like Long COVID often face dismissal from doctors when there is no definitive test to confirm their illness. Many are told their symptoms are psychological, leading to unnecessary psychiatric admissions, despite physical causes.
Conditions like Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) share overlapping symptoms, including extreme fatigue, cognitive issues, and physical pain. Historically, ME/CFS has been misdiagnosed as psychological, with the condition once labeled as “hysteria” by the CDC in the 1990s. For years, patients were treated with therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy, which often exacerbated their symptoms instead of addressing the underlying physical causes.
Elizabeth Knights, who was diagnosed with ME/CFS after years of misdiagnosis, recalls how she was once admitted to a psychiatric ward in 2006, only to worsen under psychiatric treatment. She now advocates for better awareness of these complex conditions, warning that psychiatric misdiagnosis is common among Long COVID and ME/CFS patients.
The lack of clear diagnostic tests for Long COVID, ME/CFS, and other post-viral conditions contributes to this ongoing issue. While studies have shown biological markers for these illnesses, no definitive tests exist. This leaves doctors relying on subjective diagnoses, with some leaning toward psychological explanations when the physical cause remains elusive.
Experts stress the importance of better education for medical professionals, as well as increased research into Long COVID and related conditions, to ensure more accurate diagnoses. Despite Erin’s difficult journey, she eventually found a clinician who understood her symptoms and referred her to a specialist, leading to a diagnosis of both Long COVID and ME/CFS. With proper care, she is now able to manage her symptoms and return to work.
However, many patients are not so fortunate, and experts warn that the medical system must adapt to better recognize and treat these complex chronic conditions.