Title: Study of Socio-Demographic Variables and Phenomenology of Dhat Syndrome (An Indian Culture-Bound Syndrome)
Authors: Roopam Kumari, Harbandna Sawhney, Niraj Srivastava, Dinesh Tyagi
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i8.88
Abstract
Objective: To study the sociodemographic profile of patients of Dhat syndrome along with its manifestations and also to know the comorbidities associated with Dhatsyndrome.
Methods: 50 consecutive patients visiting psychiatry OPD of a general hospital who fulfilled the ICD 10 criteria of Dhat syndrome were included in the study. Written informed consent was taken. Patients were interviewed for sociodemographic profile, clinical manifestations and associated comorbidities. ICD 10 criteria was used for diagnosing comorbidities.
Results: In our study majority of the patients were young adults with 54.3% being between 20-30 years and only 6.7% being above 40 years. Maximum number had either studied till class 10(29.8) and 8.6% were illiterate. 54.4% were unmarried. Our group had a combination of unskilled 28.2% and 30.4% skilled workers.19.5% being unemployed.63% came directly to psychiatry OPD whereas rest were referred from surgery or urology.45.6% presented as night fall whereas 41.8% presented as semen in urine.28.2% attributed the cause for the symptoms to watching porn or other sexual images whereas 21.7% attributed it to masturbation. Almost all patients presented with weakness secondary to dhat syndrome. 32.6% fulfilled diagnosis of depressive disorder, 17.3% had sexual dysfunction and 10.8% had anxiety disorder.
Conclusion: This study reflects the cultural beliefs of persons attending our Hospital which caters mostly to North Delhi urban population. The need of the hour is to impart scientific and rational sexual knowledge at community levels and in the schools and colleges for optimal functioning free of men from dilemmas, apprehensions and distress.
Keywords: Sociodemographic variable phenomenology dhat syndrome.
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