title: Comorbidity, knowledge and attitude towards sex among patients with Dhat syndrome: A retrospective study.
abstract: This study aimed to assess the knowledge about sex, attitude towards sex, prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity and relationship of the comorbidity with onset of symptoms of Dhat syndrome. Treatment records of 264 patients diagnosed with Dhat syndrome were reviewed for clinical profile including psychiatric comorbidity and sexual dysfunction and information on sexual knowledge and attitude using Sex Knowledge and Attitude Questionnaire (SKAQ-II). None of the patients gave all the correct responses on the SKAQ-II. Poor knowledge about sexual matters was not limited to the semen formation only, but also involved other aspects of sexuality, like masturbation, relationship of pregnancy with orgasm in women, breast feeding and pregnancy, relationship of sexual desire with addictive drugs and sexually transmitted diseases can be cured by having sex with a virgin girl. Higher level of education showed significant association with better sexual knowledge and liberal attitude. There was significant positive correlation between sexual knowledge and attitude. About half (51.9%) of patients had at least one comorbid psychiatric disorder and/or sexual dysfunction. Among the psychiatric disorders, depressive disorders were the most common and premature ejaculation was the most common comorbid sexual dysfunction. Among those with comorbidity, symptoms of Dhat syndrome preceded the onset of other disorders. Patients with Dhat syndrome have high rates of comorbidity and poor sexual knowledge and less liberal attitude, which was not only limited to loss of semen but also involves other spheres of sexuality. Accordingly psychoeducation in patients of Dhat syndrome should not be limited to addressing the myths and lack of knowledge about semen formation, but also should address poor sexual knowledge on all the aspects related to sexuality and the negative attitude towards sex.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh 160012, India. Electronic address: drsandeepg2002@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grover
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, NIMS Medical College & Hospital, Jaipur 303121, India.
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh 160012, India.
authors.forename: Aseem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mehra
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh 160012, India.
authors.forename: Ajit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Avasthi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003469:Culture; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D061686:Premature Ejaculation / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Comorbidity; Dhat syndrome; Sexual attitude; Sexual knowledge