Binge eating disorder and coronavirus outbreak among health care workers in tunisia

IntroductionCOVID19 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.MethodsWe 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).ConclusionsBinge 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.

Covid19 pandemic impacts on mental health of tunisian health care workers

IntroductionCovid19 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.MethodsWe 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.

Binge eating disorder experienced by young doctors struggling with COVID-19

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.

Coronavirus lockdown and its impact on mental health of general population

IntroductionOn March, Tunisian government imposed lockdown measures on cities to contain the COVID19 outbreak. Media coverage, social distancing, quarantine and isolation led to a global atmosphere of anxiety and depression.ObjectivesTo assess the level of anxiety and depression among citizens of southern Tunisia and theirs associated factors.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical online-based survey, from April 19, 2020, to May 5, 2020 on 331 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. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) validated in the Tunisian dialectal version was used to assess anxiety and depression. Data were analysed using SPSS version 21.ResultsThe 331 Participants were males (35%), singles (43,2%),aged between 20 and 40 years old(71%). From them, 37.5 % were suffering from anxiety and 42% of them from depression. Anxiety was correlated to the personal history of anxiety (p<10-3), the depression (p<10-3), the fear of contamination (p<10-3), the increased consumption of coffee and tea (p=0.005) and sleep disorders (p<10-3). Meanwhile, depression was associated to a past psychiatric history (p=0.001), a personal experience of psychological violence (p=0.011), increased cannabis use (p=0.011) and a broken sleep (p=0.007).ConclusionsOur study identified a high prevalence of adverse psychological symptoms experienced by Tunisian citizens during this first wave of virus spread. Mitigating coronavirus effect on mental health is becoming an international public health priority.

Binge eating disorders in the age of coronavirus outbreak

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.