IntroductionThe COVID19 outbreak has disrupted the mental health of resident doctors who had to care for patients. Eating disorders were among these reported mental health problems.ObjectivesTo screen binge eating disorder among young Tunisian doctors and its associated factors.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical online-based survey, from April 19, 2020, to May 5, 2020 on 180 medical residents in training. We sent the survey via a google form link. We used a self-administered anonymous questionnaire containing sociodemographic and clinical data of young doctors. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria were used to assess Binge-Eating Disorder.ResultsAmong 180 young doctors who enrolled the survey, 70,2% were female, 16% were married. The mean age was 29 years. 51,1% were frontline caregivers, working directly in diagnosing, treating or caring for patients with coronavirus disease. Among our participants, 5% presented anxiety disorder, another 5 % presented depression disorder and 1,7% had eating disorder. Binge eating disorder were present among 8,9 % of participants and it was associated to personal history of eating disorder (7,7% vs 1,1%, p<10-3), past history of depression disorder (7,2% vs 3,3%, p=0.008), exposure to media or news about coronavirus outbreak (0.5% vs 8,3%, p=0.04).ConclusionsOur study indicated the evolving proportion of binge eating disorder among young doctors. Screening eating disorder is important in order to prevent related physical health problems.

IntroductionDetecting warning signs of suicide attempts is a particular difficult task. However, people who plan to commit suicide almost always announce it to someone in some way.ObjectivesAims of this study were to describe signs preceding the suicide attempt in a group of suicidal persons and its links with suicidal recurrence.MethodsIt was a retrospective study that included all the patients who attempted suicide during the period from May 1st, 2009 to September 25th, 2020 and who were referred to the psychiatry department of the regional hospital of Gabes. Sociodemographic and clinical data as well as suicidal attempts characteristics were assessed.Results278 patients were included (female=78.1%), with mean age of 26. The common suicidal attempt method was intentional drug intoxication (67.8%). At least, one clinical manifestation was reported by 75.2% of suicide patients. The most common signs were the tendency to isolation (47.1%), a change in character or behavior (46.6%), thoughts of death (29.6%), anxiety or agitation (24.8%) and recent worsening of the pre-existing psychiatric symptoms (24.3%). Suicidal recurrence affected 24.8% of patients. It was correlated to the presence of a mental disorder (p<10-3), the presence of reflections on death (p=0.02), the onset of a state of anxiety or agitation (p<10-3), recent worsening of pre-existing psychiatric symptoms (p = 0.001) and verbal expression of suicidal thoughts (p<10-3).ConclusionsThe pre-suicidal syndrome is frequently heralded by changes in the patient’s character or behavior. Some suicidal warning signs are associated with the risk of suicidal recurrence.Conflict of interestNo significant relationships.

IntroductionLockdown imposed by the Tunisian government had a psychological impact such as depression, stress and anxiety, which triggered the development of eating disorders especially binge eating disorder.ObjectivesTo screen the binge eating disorder among general population in Gabes (south of Tunisia) and to identify factors associated with it.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical web-based survey, from April 19, 2020, to May 5, 2020 on Facebook on citizens living in south of Tunisia. During this period, the total confirmed cases of COVID-19 exceeded 900 in Tunisia. We used a self-administered anonymous questionnaire containing citizen’s sociodemographic and clinical data. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria were used to assess Binge-Eating Disorder.ResultsA total of 331 persons were included. They were females (65%) and singles (43,2%). 71% of our population were aged between 20 and 40 years old. Among citizens of southern Tunisia, 6,9% suffered from binge eating disorder during this period of the lockdown. Binge eating disorders were associated to past psychiatric history (2,1% vs 4,53%, p<10-3), history of eating disorder (4,5% vs 2,4%, p<10-3), social isolation (5,1% vs 1,8%, p=0,015) and lack of physical activity (3,3% vs 3,9%, p=0,025).ConclusionsOur study showed that lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the eating behavior of citizens of southern Tunisia. It is therefore important to screen them in order to manage them before complications emerge.

IntroductionCOVID-19 pandemic affected not only physical health of individuals, and communities but also their mental health worldwide. Young physicians, who were providing care for patients during the outbreak in a global atmosphere of stress, anxiety and depression, were not spared.ObjectivesTo assess anxiety and depression among young medical resident exposed to COVID-19 in Tunisia and its associated factorsMethods It was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical online-based survey, from April 19, 2020, to May 5, 2020 on 180 medical residents in training, via a Google-Form link. 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.Results Among 180 young doctors included, 70.2% were female, 16% were married, 81.8% worked in a university Hospital and 51.1% were frontline caregivers involved in primary screening. Our study revealed that 66.1% of young medical residents were suffering from anxiety (severe anxiety: 28.9 %) and 61.7% of them from depression (severe depression: 29.1%). Anxiety disorder was correlated to female gender (p=0.008), being married (0.001), worse quality of sleep (p<10-3) and increased consumption of tea and coffee (p=0.012). Depression was associated to worse quality of sleep (p<10-3), lack of physical activity (p<10-3), shortage of personal protective equipment (p=0,027) and anxiety disorder (p<10-3).ConclusionsOur study indicated a high proportion of anxiety and depression among young doctors in training, needing systematic screening in order to prevent them.

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.