Phenomenology and beliefs of patients with Dhat syndrome: A nationwide multicentric study

Sandeep Grover, Ajit Avasthi, Sunil Gupta, Amitava Dan, Rajarshi Neogi, Prakash B Behere, Bhavesh Lakdawala, Adarsh Tripathi, Kaustav Chakraborty, Vishal Sinha, Manjeet Singh Bhatia, Amrit Patjoshi, Rao Tss and Abhijit Rozatkar

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2016, vol. 62, issue 1, 57-66

Abstract: Aim: To assess the phenomenology and associated beliefs in patients with Dhat syndrome. Methods: A total of 780 male patients aged more than 16 years were recruited from 15 centers spread across the country and were assessed on Dhat Syndrome Questionnaire. Results: The most commonly reported reasons for passage of Dhat were excessive masturbation (55.1%), sexual dreams (47.3%), excessive sexual desire (42.8%) and consumption of high energy foods (36.7%). The most common situation in which participants experienced passage of Dhat were as ‘night falls’ (60.1%) and ‘while passing stools’ (59.5%). The most common consequence due to passage of Dhat was weakness in sexual ability (75.6%). In terms of psychological and somatic symptoms, the common symptoms included bodily weakness (78.2%); feeling tired or having low energy (75.9%); feeling down, depressed, or hopeless (67.9%); and little interest or pleasure in doing things (63.7%). In terms of treatment expectations, about half of the patients (49.1%) expected that energizing medications like vitamins/tonics/tablets were required and more than one-third (38.2%) expected that there was a need for taking energizing injections. Conclusion: Present study shows that Dhat syndrome is a distinct clinical entity seen all over India, with its characteristic features.

Keywords: Dhat syndrome; culture-bound syndrome; clinical picture; beliefs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:62:y:2016:i:1:p:57-66

DOI: 10.1177/0020764015591857

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