Can Lyme disease be misdiagnosed as depression?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Lyme disease is sometimes misdiagnosed as depression because the two conditions share overlapping symptoms, including persistent fatigue, low mood, brain fog, sleep disturbances, and difficulty concentrating. Because Lyme disease is caused by a tick-borne bacterial infection, missing the correct diagnosis can delay treatment and worsen symptoms over time. If you're experiencing symptoms that feel like depression but aren't improving, or if you've had possible tick exposure, it's worth exploring other causes. A free, instant, online symptom check can help you quickly identify possible conditions based on your specific symptoms and guide you toward the right next steps—whether that's seeing a primary care doctor, a mental health professional, or an infectious disease specialist.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/15/2026

Important Next Steps

Discover if depression could be misdiagnosed See if Lyme disease matches your symptoms Find likely causes of your fatigue and mood Find OTC options for symptom relief Find a doctor for Lyme disease care Learn medically valid home remedies for depression Understand if your symptoms need urgent care

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Explanation

Lyme disease and depression can have overlapping symptoms, which might lead to misdiagnosis. According to the medical literature, Lyme disease can cause symptoms such as tiredness, mood changes, and cognitive difficulties, which can also be seen in depression.

Here are some points to consider:

Similar Symptoms: Both conditions can cause fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and mood changes, making them hard to tell apart.
Diagnosis Challenges: Proper testing and evaluation are important to distinguish between Lyme disease and depression.

If you or someone you know is experiencing these overlapping symptoms and wants to better understand what might be causing them, try Ubie's free AI-powered symptom checker to help identify potential causes and determine the next steps for care.

(References)

Kobayashi T, Higgins Y, Melia MT, & Auwaerter PG. (2022). Many Diagnoses are Frequently Misattributed to Lyme .... The American journal of medicine, 34861197.
Rebman AW, Bechtold KT, Yang T, Mihm EA, Soloski MJ, Novak CB, & Aucott JN. (2017). The Clinical, Symptom, and Quality-of-Life Characterization .... Frontiers in medicine, 29312942.
Di Battista ME, Dell'Acqua C, Baroni L, Fenoglio C, Galimberti D, & Gallucci M. (2018). Frontotemporal Dementia Misdiagnosed for Post- .... Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD, 30282363.

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