A Study of Prevalence and Correlates of Dhat Syndrome in Young Males Diagnosed with Depression

Background: Dhat syndrome, a culture-bound condition related to anxiety and somatic complaints due to perceived semen loss, is rarely studied in relation to depression. Objective: To determine the prevalence of dhat syndrome in young men with depressive disorders and compare those with and without dhat syndrome, along with their socio-demographic and clinical correlates. Methods: A total of 147 men (18–45 years) with depressive episodes (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition [DSM-5]) at a government hospital’s psychiatric Out Patient Department (OPD) were assessed for 18 months. Dhat syndrome was diagnosed using perception of semen loss, distress, and attribution of symptoms to semen loss. Results: Prevalence was 12.9% (19 of 147). Lower education was significantly associated ( P = .023). Those with dhat syndrome had higher Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), and Somatic Symptom Scale-8 (SSS-8) scores ( P < .001), more sexual dysfunction Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX) ( P < .05), and poorer Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS) and World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) scores ( P < .05). Conclusion: Dhat syndrome magnifies psychological, somatic, and sexual burden in depressed men, especially the less educated.