The challenges of living with Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks (DSCATT) – A qualitative study

Objective

We sought to explore the lived experience of people with Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks (DSCATT) to inform the development of a potential treatment intervention.

Methods

We conducted one-to-one in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 13 people living in Australia affected by DSCATT. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Although participants attributed the origin of their illness to tick bites, not all were adamant they had Lyme disease. Negative experiences in conventional healthcare were marked and were reported to exacerbate the impact of the illness and affect mental health. Further, these negative experiences propelled participants to seek unapproved treatments (by Australian standards). The desire for the illness to be acknowledged and causative agents identified was pronounced among the participant group.

Conclusions

Individuals with DSCATT experience significant challenges amid a contentious healthcare landscape surrounding chronic symptoms attributed to ticks in Australia. Our findings suggest the need for empathetic, supportive and patient-centred treatments for this cohort.

Implications for public health

DSCATT results in a considerable burden across multiple domains for those affected. Negative experiences with healthcare exacerbate the suffering of people with DSCATT in Australia. New approaches that acknowledge the illness experience of people with DSCATT, alongside evidence-based treatments that encompass biopsychosocial models of care, are needed to tackle this debilitating condition.