The ‘Dhat syndrome’ : a culturally determined symptom of depression?

Abstract

The status of the 'Dhat syndrome' is called into question by the results of an epidemiological study of men attending general medical clinics in Lahore. The Dhat complaint was reported by 30% of men attending medical clinics, and to an equal extent by patients with 'functional' and 'organic' diagnoses. It was strongly associated with depressed mood, fatigue symptoms, and a DSM-III-R diagnosis of depression. It is argued that the Dhat complaint should be primarily regarded not as the focus of a culture-bound syndrome, but as a culturally determined symptom associated with depression.