Dhat Syndrome—Revisiting the Phenomenology and Related Psychiatric Comorbidities

Abstract

Background: Dhat syndrome is a culture-bound syndrome found in men from India (and other South Asian countries), leading to a number of psychiatric problems. Aim: The study is aimed at studying the sociodemographic correlates of patients with Dhat syndrome and the occurrence of comorbid neurotic, stress-related, and somatic symptoms. It also aims to study the severity of comorbid anxiety and depressive symptoms. Settings and Design: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in the Department of Psychiatry, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute (Chennai). Materials and Methods: Fifty patients were recruited from consecutive outpatients attending the psychiatry department and assessment was carried out using a semi-structured pro forma, Dhat Syndrome Questionnaire, and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale. Statistical Analysis: The data collected here was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Results: Most patients were found to be in the second decade of life and hailed from urban areas and lower socioeconomic status. Media and peer group were the source of information for three-fourths of the patients. A majority of the patients reported with somatic symptoms. Mild to moderate anxiety and depression scores were most commonly observed. Conclusion: The current study has illustrated that Dhat syndrome is associated with a lot of misinformation and leads to mild–moderate depression and anxiety symptoms, making its awareness and treatment extremely important.