Female Dhat syndrome as a hidden psychiatric entity in premarital women - a case report

Abstract

Dhat syndrome is a culturally mediated disorder that is traditionally defined in men as distress brought on by a lack of semen. Vaginal discharge-related female variations are still underdiagnosed and often mistreated. We describe a 27-year-old single woman who had been experiencing vaginal discharge for 18 months, along with exhaustion, depression, and concerns about her ability to conceive and have sex. She continued to believe that she had lost vital fluids despite numerous gynecological consultations and normal results. An assessment of mental health revealed a significant somatic preoccupation and depressed affect. ICD-11 was used to conceptualize the presentation as a comorbid depressive episode and bodily distress disorder. Over the course of 8–10 weeks, she significantly improved after receiving culturally sensitive cognitive-behavioral therapy and 20 mg of fluoxetine daily. This case highlights the importance of recognizing female Dhat syndrome to prevent unnecessary medicalization and improve psychosexual outcomes.