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Dhat Syndrome – a Useful Diagnostic Entity in Indian Culture

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

M. S. Bhatia  and
S. C. Malik
M. S. Bhatia*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University College of Medical Sciences, Shahdara, Delhi-110095, India
S. C. Malik
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi-110001, India
*
∗D-1, Naraina Vihar, New Delhi-110028, India
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Abstract

In a prospective study of 144 consecutive male patients with psychosexual disorders, comprising 93 with Dhat syndrome with or without impotence or premature ejaculation, 21 with premature ejaculation, and 30 suffering only impotence, the commonest associated psychiatric illness was neurotic depression (39%) followed by anxiety neurosis (21 %), while 31% did not receive a psychiatric diagnosis. The common presenting symptoms of Dhat syndrome were weakness (71 %), fatigue (69%), palpitations (69%), and sleeplessness (62%). After random allocation into groups, four types of treatment were given: an anti-anxiety drug, an antidepressant, a placebo, or counselling. The best response was seen with the anti-anxiety and antidepressant drugs. Twenty-one patients dropped out of treatment; 15 of whom were from the counselling group.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 159 , Issue 5 , November 1991 , pp. 691 - 695
Copyright
Copyright © 1991 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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