Medical gaslighting - what is behind the term?

Imagine entering a doctor's office, plagued with pain that's weighing on your everyday life. You hope for explanation. For relief. And above all, to be taken seriously. But instead, your symptoms are dismissed as if they were nothing more than a product of your own imagination.

This moment of disappointment, where your health and trust are undermined, has a name: medical gaslighting. It is a phenomenon that occurs quietly but powerfully in doctor's offices and hospitals around the world — often unnoticed but with far-reaching consequences for those affected.

How is it possible that people seeking help end up shaken in their own perception? And what impact does this have on their health and life? We took a closer look at medical gaslighting and researched how such a breach of trust in healthcare occurs — and what needs to be done about it.

What is medical gaslighting?

The term "gaslighting" originally comes from psychology and describes a form of emotional manipulation where a person is systematically led to question their own perception, memory, or reality.

Translated into the medical context, "medical gaslighting" means that patients begin to doubt their perception regarding health issues due to the reactions or behavior of a doctor.

This might look like symptoms, complaints, or concerns being downplayed, ignored, or even dismissed as exaggerated.

5 signs of medical gaslighting

• Devaluation of symptoms:Doctors or caregivers dismiss symptoms as "insignificant" or "psychosomatic" without further consideration.

• Ignoring complaints:Patients repeatedly report pain or problems that are not seriously investigated.

• Hasty diagnoses:Complaints are hastily attributed to stress or emotional causes without ruling out physical causes.

• Difficulty in diagnosis:Often in diseases that are difficult to diagnose or those with nonspecific symptoms, such as autoimmune diseases, chronic pain, or rare diseases.

• Gender and racial bias:Women, especially women from ethnic minorities, are often disproportionately affected by medical gaslighting. Studies show that their complaints are more likely to be classified as "exaggerated" or "psychosomatic," whereas in reality they often have serious health problems.

Effects of Medical Gaslighting

• Delayed Diagnosis and Treatment:When symptoms are not taken seriously, it can lead to conditions being untreated or worsening.

• Emotional Stress:Patients may suffer from self-doubt and emotional stress when they feel no one believes them.

• Loss of Trust in the Healthcare System:Repeated experiences of medical gaslighting can severely shake trust in doctors and medical professionals.

In these conditions, medical gaslighting can occur more frequently

• Chronic pain:Patients with chronic pain syndromes, such as fibromyalgia, are often dismissed as hypersensitive.

• Autoimmune diseases:Diseases like lupus or multiple sclerosis are not taken seriously due to their diffuse symptoms.

• Endometriosis:This condition affects many women, but their pain and symptoms are often downplayed or ignored for years.

How should one deal with medical gaslighting?

• Documentation of symptoms:Keeping a detailed journal can help present symptoms more clearly and concretely.

• Getting a second opinion:Another doctor or specialist can help provide a more objective view of the complaints.

• Self-assertion:Patients should not hesitate to clearly communicate their complaints and insist on tests or examinations if they feel they are not being taken seriously.

5 Questions for Dr. Susanne Steinkraus from the Premium Medical Circle

What measures can doctors take to prevent medical gaslighting?

Open communication with patients and creating a trusting environment are crucial.

Have you personally experienced cases where patients felt they were not being taken seriously, and how did you deal with it?

With empathy and genuine interest in the patients, you will always find a common and satisfying solution.

How do you deal with the challenge when a patient's symptoms cannot be medically explained but still need to be taken seriously?

Here, interdisciplinary collaboration with other specialists can be useful to look at the symptoms holistically and truly support the patients.

What factors contribute to medical gaslighting in the doctor-patient relationship?

Time pressure in practice, inadequate training in communication withpatients, and biases can, for example, be such factors.

Do you think medical gaslighting should be more addressed in medical education?

A stronger focus on communication, empathy, and the importance of the patient's perspective could help raise awareness of this issue and improve the doctor-patient relationship.

You can learn more about Dr. Susanne Steinkraus at the Premium Medium Circle.