[The Tunisian Revolution in the eyes of children]. / La revolution tunisienne dans le regard des enfants.

BACKGROUND: The child uses drawing as a language. By reflecting faithfully all that is involved in the psychic life of the child, the drawing participates in the diagnosis and plays a role in the therapeutic management of young people suffering from psychological difficulties. AIM: To analyze the drawings of children and adolescents followed at the department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, further to the events of the Tunisian Revolution. METHOD: it is about a cross sectional study conducted among outpatients consulting the department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Razi hospital in Manouba during the period from January 25 to February 28, 2011. These patients were divided into two groups with a specific instruction for each, to represent the events experienced by the patient and his family for the first group and to do a free drawing for the second. RESULTS: both groups consisted of 16 patients each with successively average age of 10, 5 and 10.33 years and sex ratio of 2.20 and 1.25. Patients in both groups were exposed to different stressors. The first group of children used in their drawings few colors, mostly black and red. The instruments of war such as bullets, guns, tanks and military helicopters were well represented. The characters were mostly male who were angry and looking for leakage. The drawings depicted scenes of war and conflict with people in distress or dead. The drawings of the second group were essentially about nature. CONCLUSION: We find that the instruction has significantly changed the behavior of children from the sheet. The instruction in this context seems to be a necessary to help these children overcome their concerns and express their pain.

[Profile of a population of consultants in child psychiatry and access to care by gender]. / Profil d'une population de consultants en pédopsychiatrie et accès aux soins selon le genre.

BACKGROUND: Access to care in mental health is a fundamental element in the monitoring and care of children and adolescents. AIM: The objective of this work was to draw up the demographic and clinical characteristics of a population of consultants in child psychiatry and to investigate possible gender inequalities in access to care. METHODS: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study concerning a sample of 730 children and adolescents having consulted child psychiatry department in Tunis and Monastir during a period of 4 months (April-July on 2006). Data were collected through a questionnaire administered to the relatives of patients consulting these various structures. RESULTS: 66 % of consulting were boys. In 55 % of cases, the mother, alone, accompanied the child to the consultation. The request of care emanated in the majority of the cases from parents and doctors. On average ran out 18 months before the first medical visit and 26 months before the first psychiatric consultation. Multiple medical consultations precede the meeting with the child psychiatrist. We have not found difference in the care of children and adolescents according to gender. Only the period preceding the first medical consultation for psychiatric symptoms was longer in girls compared to boys. CONCLUSION: Access to care structures was easy and even in cases of geographical remoteness parents did not seem to privilege boys over girls.

[The mobile: a new addiction upon adolescents]. / Le téléphone portable: une nouvelle addiction chez les adolescents.

AIM: This survey was conducted to investigate mobile phone use and dependence in Tunisian high school students. METHODS: Questionnaires were anonymously distributed to 120 adolescents looking for the modalities of use of mobiles. SMS dependency was assessed with the French version of the Igarashi scale. RESULTS: The two most used means for communication were SMS and missing calls. 83.2% of the sample sent more than 6 missing calls per day. According to the Igarashi scale, adolescents reported perception of excessive use in 31. Seven percent of cases, emotional reaction in 33.4% of cases and exclusive relationship maintenance thanks to mobile in 18% of cases. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated a anew addictgion to mobile phone among tunisian high school students.