How Do the Patients with Dhat Syndrome Cope? Findings from an Observational Study from North India

Background: Dhat syndrome is commonly associated with psychiatric and sexual comorbidities. Cultural belief has a pathoplastic effect on the pathogenesis of Dhat syndrome and causes distress among patients with Dhat syndrome. How these patients cope with this distress has not been focused on in recent studies. The study aimed to evaluate the most popularly assessed coping strategies in patients of Dhat syndrome with and without comorbidity in comparison to healthy controls. Methods: This was a cross-sectional comparative study of coping between the Dhat syndrome with and without comorbidity groups and their respective control groups of healthy volunteers using standardized tools. Results: A total of 117 patients with Dhat syndrome were evaluated in the study. Both adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies were used by patients of Dhat syndrome and healthy individuals. However, maladaptive coping strategies were used mainly by patients with Dhat syndrome. As comorbidities increased, the use of maladaptive coping strategies also increased. Conclusion: Patients with Dhat syndrome more often than healthy people use coping strategies based on behavior disengagement and problem denial, and have more difficulties in positive reinterpretation of stressful events. Interventional strategies developed for Dhat syndrome should take into cognizance these findings.