Introduction Covid19 pandemic in Tunisia has disturbed the health system. Health care workers, who were in the frontline to face this disease, had experienced reactions of anxiety, depression and distress.ObjectivesTo assess the level of anxiety and depression among health care workers of regional hospital of Gabes (south of Tunisia) and its associated factors.Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study, from April 19, 2020, to May 5, 2020 on healthcare workers in Gabes regional Hospital. All hospital departments and units were included. We used a self-administered anonymous questionnaire containing sociodemographic and clinical data. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) validated in the Tunisian dialectal version was used to assess anxiety and depression.ResultsAmong the 289 responding participants, 100 (34.6%) were frontline health care workers directly engaged in managing patients with coronavirus disease. Our study revealed that 43.6% of health care workers were suffering from anxiety and 44.3 % from depression. There was a significant association between anxiety and female gender (p<0.001), being married (p=0.006), mental health conditions (p<0.001) especially anxiety disorders (p<0.001) and depressive disorders (p=0.03), personal medical history of dysthyroidism (p=0.013) and smoking (p=0.005). Nurses experienced more likely anxiety symptoms than other occupation (p=0.021). There was significant relationship between depression and female gender (p<0.001), married status (p=0.02), age under 50 (p=0.032) and mental health conditions (p<0.001) such as anxiety disorders (p=0.001) and depressive disorders (p=0.013).ConclusionsIt is crucial to provide care for health care workers with mental health problems during their struggle with covid19.

Introduction COVID19 outbreak had affected physical and mental health of individuals. Different adverse health behaviors had worsened and eating disorders had evolved. Health care workers were not spared.ObjectivesTo screen binge eating disorder among health care workers of regional hospital of Gabes (south of Tunisia) and its associated factors.Methods We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study, from April 19, 2020, to May 5, 2020 on 289 in Gabes regional Hospital. All healthcare workers were included (n=620). Workers who were on sick leave during the study were excluded. During this period, the total confirmed cases of COVID-19 exceeded 900 cases in Tunisia and around 20 cases in Gabes. We used a self-administered anonymous questionnaire containing sociodemographic and clinical data. DSM-5 diagnostic criteria were used to assess Binge-Eating Disorder.ResultsOf the 289 responding participants, 85 were physicians (29%), 166 nurses (57.4%), 8 ambulance drivers (2.8%) and 30 health-related administrators (10.3%). A total of 100 participants (34.6%) were frontline health care workers directly engaged in diagnosing, treating or caring for patients with coronavirus disease. Nine percent of participants experienced binge eating disorder during the outbreak. Binge eating disorders were associated to past psychiatric history of eating disorder (p=0.001), social isolation (p=0.001), increased consumption of tea and coffee (p=0.02) and the fact of being a frontline care giver (p=0.009).Conclusions Binge eating disorders are usually associated with health problems: obesity and consequently severe form of coronavirus disease. Screening those disorders is important to alleviate its physical impact.

Introduction Smoking and nicotine dependence are particularly common in patients with a psychiatric disorder compared to the general population. Objectives To study the prevalence of smoking in patients followed at the department of psychiatry and to assess their dependence on nicotine. Methods This was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study. The study focused on patients followed at the department of psychiatry of the regional hospital of Gabes. Sociodemographic and clinical data were assessed. Fagerstrom questionnaire in its validated French version was used to assess the nicotine dependence. Data were analyzed using the software SPSS (20th edition). Results 100 patients were included. They were male (60%) and single (50%) and with a mean age of 45.3 years [18-71]. The three most common pathologies were anxiety disorders (31%), schizophrenia (30%) and depression (29%). Among the patients surveyed 48% were smokers. Of which, 93.7% smoked cigarettes, 20.8% snorted chewing tobacco and 12.5% smoked hookah. The average number of pack-years was 11.6, with an average of 22.8 cigarettes per day. The mean duration of regular smoking was 19.1 years. Regarding nicotine dependence, 42% of patients were dependent. Regarding the degree of dependency, 43.7% were heavily dependent, 25% were weakly dependent and 18.8% were moderately dependent. Smoking was significantly associated with the male gender (p≤10-3), alcoholism (p=0.002) and schizophrenia (p=0.006). Conclusions Results of our study show that smoking is frequent in patients followed at the psychiatry department. This aspect should be taken into account during the psychiatric evaluation, especially when therapeutic resistance occurs.

IntroductionAddictive behaviors and suicide have important risks that need to be explored for any patient followed at the department of psychiatry, possibly endangering his vital and psychosocial prognosis.ObjectivesOur study aims to identify the link between addictive behavior and suicidal behavior in patients followed at the psychiatry department at the regional hospital of Gabes.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study carried out on a clinical population who consult in the psychiatry department in the Gabes’s regional hospital during the period from January 1st, 2020 to September 30, 2020.Sociodemographic and clinical data of the patients as well as their personal and family history were assessed. The evaluation of psychopathological disorders was carried out according to the diagnostic criteria of DSM-5. Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire (SBQ) was used for suicide risk assessment. Fagerstrom questionnaire in its validated French version was used to assess the of nicotine dependence. The exploration of childhood physical and emotional trauma was carried out by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) scale. Data were analysed using the software SPSS.Results100patients were included. The mean age was 45.5years. TableI: Breakdown of addictive behavior and suicide attempts by gender. TableII: Common vulnerability factors between addictive behavior and suicidalityThe analytical study showed that suicide attempts were correlated with addictive behaviors (p = 0.03) and that suicidal recurrence was correlated with addictive behaviors (p = 0.01).ConclusionsSuicidal behavior in patients followed in psychiatry is closely linked to addictive behavior, hence the importance of early management.