“Have you considered that it could be burnout?”—psychologization and stigmatization of (...) long COVID or post-COVID-19 vaccination syndrome, 2025,

[Wyva]

Full title: “Have you considered that it could be burnout?”—psychologization and stigmatization of self-reported long COVID or post-COVID-19 vaccination syndrome

Ronja Büchner, Christian Sander, Stephanie Schindler, Martin Walter, Carmen Scheibenbogen & Georg Schomerus

Abstract​

Background​

People reporting long COVID (LC) or post-COVID-19 vaccination syndrome (PCVS) not only suffer from their symptoms but also from stigmatization. Despite ample account and characterization of stigma experiences so far, its mechanisms and consequences on health outcomes, and particularly the role of “psychologization” remain unclear.

Methods​

In a cross-sectional observational study, we examined a large convenience sample of adults who report having LC or PCVS. We translated and adapted the “Long Covid Stigma Scale” to measure stigmatization. We measured generally perceived and personally experienced psychologization with newly developed scales/items. Outcome measures included disclosure concerns, loss of trust in medicine, life satisfaction, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and loneliness. We calculated overall prevalences of stigma and psychologization and their correlations with the outcomes. Using mediation analysis with SEM, we tested the hypothesis that psychologization of LC and PCVS syndromes causes harm by increasing stigmatization.

Results​

Altogether, N = 2053 individuals (68% reporting LC, 32% reporting PCVS) were included in the analyses. The overall prevalences of stigma experiences were high: 83% of those reporting LC and 90% of those reporting PCVS experienced stigma. Prevalences of perceived psychologization (LC: 87%, PCVS: 91%) and experienced psychologization (LC: 82%, PCVS: 87%) were similarly high. Both stigmatization and psychologization were positively correlated with disclosure concerns, loss of trust in medicine, depression, anxiety, and loneliness as well as negatively correlated with life satisfaction and self-esteem. Mediation analysis indicated that stigmatization mediated a relevant proportion of the relationship between psychologization and negative outcomes.

Conclusions​

People reporting LC or PCVS are subject to stigmatization and psychologization. From a patient perspective, psychologization appears to be an important driver of stigmatization and negative outcomes.

Open access: https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-025-04335-0

 

[Wyva]

Paper suggested by @Yann04

 

[BrightCandle]

A large majority (total: 92%) of those respondents who reported experiences of psychologization on at least some occasions attributed these to doctors and medical-therapeutic professionals (LC: 90% and PCVS: 96%). Experiences of psychologization were also oftentimes caused by friends (total: 47%, LC: 49%, and PCVS: 43%), public authorities (total: 41%, LC: 38%, and PCVS: 48%), and family members (total: 41%, LC: 42%, and PCVS: 39%)

So almost all healthcare workers and less than half of everyone else. Seems like this is a problem that stems and flows from healthcare workers.

 

[rvallee]

Despite ample account and characterization of stigma experiences so far, its mechanisms and consequences on health outcomes, and particularly the role of “psychologization” remain unclear.

I strongly dispute that. They are quite clear. They are intentional, this is the problem. The root cause problem is that the problem is not considered a problem, it's considered good.

It also shows how evidence hardly matters in health care. Only beliefs ultimately do. Evidence only matters depending on who believes it, who doesn't, and their influence. None of this is accidental, the consequences could not be clearer, it's that the consequences of both the problem and the resulting negligence are systematically retroactively attributed as the cause of the problem in the first place.

And a big tell of how hopeless this is is that it's always framed as feelings. Not facts, feelings. What happens to us is not facts, it's feelings. What they feel they notice about us, correct or not, is framed as facts, despite being feelings. None of the material consequences are ever considered. There is never any consideration whatsoever about the harsh reality that time is unforgiving, that treatment delayed is treatment denied, how the consequences of this amount to social murder and criminal negligence. But it's all just feelings. Our existence is just feelings in the lives of others. Intentional banality of evil.

 

[rvallee]

So almost all healthcare workers and less than half of everyone else. Seems like this is a problem that stems and flows from healthcare workers.

And a massive underestimate as one of the main efforts in recent decades has been the perfection of how to lie without sounding like it. Which has been a massive failure, since "I believe you" literally doesn't matter one bit if actions don't follow. And the actions never follow. Most patients can see through that, but one of the major problems with health care evaluation/satisfaction is that most people will give the equivalent of a 3 star rating simply if things didn't go awfully. They usually get a passing grade by just showing up and doing nothing, which is very unusual.

Just how many people have been fooled at being 'believed' by someone who never believed a word they said, but has been instructed to say those things because it gets them out? I would say it's most of those who don't report it.

 

[Hoopoe]

The system is blind to the harm it benefits from.

There is a social norm that says people who are sick must be cared for.

The psychologization allows people to violate that rule without having to face the negative consequences.

 

[Sean]

The real psycho-social pathology in ME/CFS. Entirely secondary, entirely avoidable.

 

[Chandelier]

11min discussion about this study in a Apotheken Umschau podcast:

’ne Dosis Wissen | Der Medizin-Podcast für Menschen im Gesundheitswesen

Was gibt es Neues im Gesundheitswesen? In diesem Podcast bieten Dr. Laura Weisenburger und Dr. Dennis Ballwieser werktägliche Updates.

www.apotheken-umschau.de

AI Summary:

Many people with long COVID experience stigmatization.

00:39 – 01:17
The podcast introduces the topic of stigmatization faced by individuals with Long-Covid or Post-Vac Syndrome, noting the struggle not only with their illness but also with a lack of understanding and harmful stigmatization. A recent study on this topic will be discussed in this episode.


01:42 – 02:05
The study, published in BMC Medicine in August, examines not only the existence of stigmatization but also its frequency and consequences. Expert Nadine Reibling, Professor of Health Promotion and Equity, was interviewed for insights.


02:05 – 02:37
A brief clarification of terms: Long-Covid refers to symptoms that persist for weeks or months after a Covid-19 infection, such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and muscle pain. Prevalence is estimated at 5-10% of those who had Covid-19. Post-Vac Syndrome is a similar condition but triggered by the Covid-19 vaccine, affecting around 0.003% of vaccinated individuals.


02:37 – 04:18
The study is a cross-sectional observational survey, with over 2,000 adult participants, predominantly women (80%). It reveals that 70% had Long-Covid and 30% Post-Vac Syndrome. Participants were primarily recruited through patient initiatives, meaning the sample may not be fully representative. The survey explored stigmatization, psychologization, emotional distress, trust in healthcare, and life satisfaction.


04:50 – 05:25
Results indicate high rates of stigmatization and psychologization in both groups, with 80% of Long-Covid sufferers and 90% of those with Post-Vac Syndrome reporting significant stigmatization. These negative experiences were strongly correlated with fear of sharing their condition and a lack of trust in healthcare.


05:25 – 06:16
The stigmatization and psychologization often led to depression, anxiety, loneliness, and reduced life satisfaction. Respondents commonly felt that medical professionals, as well as family and friends, viewed their conditions as psychological rather than physical.


06:16 – 08:02
Nadine Reibling critiques the study’s methodology, pointing out its non-representative sample and the uncertainty about whether participants were accurately diagnosed. Only 70% of respondents had a formal diagnosis, which raises questions about the study’s findings on stigmatization and psychologization.


08:02 – 09:09
Despite these concerns, Reibling acknowledges the presence of stigmatization for both conditions, especially as they share unclear origins and involve psychological aspects. However, she cautions against overly generalizing the extent of psychologization by healthcare professionals, suggesting that communication issues may play a role.


09:09 – 10:01
Reibling stresses that personal encounters with affected individuals, rather than media campaigns, are more effective in combating stigma. Healthcare professionals who have recovered from Long-Covid might play an important role in reducing stigma through their dual perspective as both affected individuals and experts.


10:01 – 10:58
The podcast wraps up by emphasizing that while the study’s findings must be considered carefully, stigmatization of those with Long-Covid and Post-Vac Syndrome is undeniable. The episode also highlights a personal column on living with ME-CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome), which shares similarities with Long-Covid.

 

[Utsikt]

Nadine Reibling critiques the study’s methodology, pointing out its non-representative sample and the uncertainty about whether participants were accurately diagnosed. Only 70% of respondents had a formal diagnosis, which raises questions about the study’s findings on stigmatization and psychologization.

If 80-90 % experienced stigmatisation, and 70 % had a diagnosis, at least 50-60 % of the diagnosed participants experienced stigmatisation. Yes, the results can not be generalised, but it’s undeniable that many patients experience stigmatisation.

Despite these concerns, Reibling acknowledges the presence of stigmatization for both conditions, especially as they share unclear origins and involve psychological aspects. However, she cautions against overly generalizing the extent of psychologization by healthcare professionals, suggesting that communication issues may play a role.

Ah, yes, it’s the victims that just misunderstood what the abusers meant. Sure.

 

[rvallee]

Reibling stresses that personal encounters with affected individuals, rather than media campaigns, are more effective in combating stigma. Healthcare professionals who have recovered from Long-Covid might play an important role in reducing stigma through their dual perspective as both affected individuals and experts.

The hell is this nonsense? As for the 2nd part, not happening, and anyone familiar with it should know that health care professionals with Long Covid are just as discriminated as the rest of us, while those recovered are more likely to be spewing bullshit.

Good grief it's been 5.5 and literally not a single bit of progress has been made and there's basically universal indifference and garbage like "stop talking about it in public, let's keep it in private where no one can know about it".

I don't know what makes this profession so disturbingly dysfunctional, but they keep showing why major reforms are needed to keep us safe from them.