Culture-bound syndromes: the story of dhat syndrome - PubMed (original) (raw)
Review
Culture-bound syndromes: the story of dhat syndrome
A Sumathipala et al. Br J Psychiatry. 2004 Mar.
Abstract
Background: Culture-bound syndrome is a term used to describe the uniqueness of some syndromes in specific cultures. Dhat (semen-loss anxiety) has been considered to be an exotic 'neurosis of the Orient'.
Aims: To ascertain the presence of similar symptoms and syndromes in different cultures and historical settings.
Method: Electronic and manual literature searches were used to gather information on the existence and description of semen-loss anxiety in different cultures and settings.
Results: Most of the empirical studies on dhat syndrome have emerged from Asia, whereas its concepts have been described historically in other cultures, including Britain, the USA and Australia. The different sources indicate the universality of symptoms and global prevalence of this condition, despite its image as a 'neurosis of the Orient'.
Conclusions: It appears that dhat (semen-loss anxiety) is not as culture-bound as previously thought. We propose that the concept of culture-bound syndromes should be modified in line with DSM-IV recommendations.
Comment in
- Dhat syndrome: a functional somatic syndrome?
Ranjith G, Mohan R. Ranjith G, et al. Br J Psychiatry. 2004 Jul;185:77. doi: 10.1192/bjp.185.1.77. Br J Psychiatry. 2004. PMID: 15231561 No abstract available. - The continuing story of dhat syndrome.
Kuruppuarachchi KA, Wijeratne LT. Kuruppuarachchi KA, et al. Br J Psychiatry. 2004 Sep;185:260; author reply 261-2. doi: 10.1192/bjp.185.3.260. Br J Psychiatry. 2004. PMID: 15339833 No abstract available. - The continuing story of dhat syndrome.
Painuly N, Chakrabarty S. Painuly N, et al. Br J Psychiatry. 2004 Sep;185:260; author reply 261-2. doi: 10.1192/bjp.185.3.260-a. Br J Psychiatry. 2004. PMID: 15376344 No abstract available. - The continuing story of dhat syndrome.
Gojanur N. Gojanur N. Br J Psychiatry. 2004 Sep;185:261; author reply 261-2. doi: 10.1192/bjp.185.3.261. Br J Psychiatry. 2004. PMID: 15376345 No abstract available. - The continuing story of dhat syndrome.
Shankar BR, Gilligan D. Shankar BR, et al. Br J Psychiatry. 2004 Sep;185:261; author reply 261-2. doi: 10.1192/bjp.185.3.261-a. Br J Psychiatry. 2004. PMID: 15376346 No abstract available. - Form-content dichotomy in psychopathology.
Rajesh G, Jacob KS. Rajesh G, et al. Br J Psychiatry. 2004 Dec;185:520-1; author reply 521. doi: 10.1192/bjp.185.6.520-b. Br J Psychiatry. 2004. PMID: 15599991 No abstract available.
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