[Psychological distress in medical and paramedical personnel in anesthesia and intensive care]. / La détresse psychologique du personnel médical et paramédical d'anesthésie-réanimation.

Anesthesia and intensive care medicine is considered one of the specialties involving more professional stress (PS). On this basis, our study aimed to assess the level of anxiety and PS in the personnel in anesthesia and intensive care and to identify the associated factors. We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study including 54 participants (38 technicians and 16 residents) working in the Departments of Anesthesia and Intensive Care at Habib Bourguiba and Hedi Chaker University Hospitals, Sfax, Tunisia. PS assessment was performed using the Karasek questionnaire. The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS) was used to measure the severity of anxiety symptoms. According to the Karasek questionnaire, the average decision latitude score was 69, the average psychological demand score was 23.9 and the average social support score was 19.6. According to this questionnaire, 40.7% of personnel was stressed and 38.9% was in isostrain condition. Average HARS score was 17.8, average psychic anxiety score was 8.7 and average somatic anxiety score was 9, with a significant difference between the medical and paramedical personnel. Severe to very severe anxiety was recorded in 25.9% of cases. HARS score was correlated to female gender (p=0.017) and to psychiatric histories (p=0.003). This study highlights that medical and paramedical personnel in anesthesia and intensive care is exposed to a significant risk of PS. Changes in working environment as well as learning professional stress management techniques should be proposed.

[Attempted suicide in high school and university students: a Tunisian case study of 61 cases]. / Tentative de suicide du lycéen et de l'étudiant: Étude Tunisienne à propos de 61 cas.

AIM: To determine the global profile of pupils and university students who made suicide attempts. METHODS: We have retrospectively examined 1623 files of pupils and university students who have consulted the psycho-pedagogical unit of psychiatry department « B ¼ of Hedi Chaker Hospital, Sfax -Tunisia, during this time span from January 1997 to December 2009. We have taken a census 61 of files of those consulting for suicide attempts. RESULTS: The prevalence of suicide attempts in Tunisian pupils and university students is low (3.75 %) and is probably due to sociocultural considerations. It is often a young girl (70.5%) having school difficulties (50.8%) and adaptation problems (60.6 %), impulsively accomplishing her suicide attempt (91.8%), at home (83.6 %), by drug ingestion (70.6%). CONCLUSION: This profile shows the major need for communication within the family, and for the generalization of listening units at schools and universities.

[Psychological impact of juvenile-onset diabetes on parents]. / Retentissement psychologique du diabète juvénile sur les parents.

Few studies have looked into the impact of diabetes on the parents' quality of life. One study, carried out by a Tunisian team in 2011, assessed the anxiety, depression and quality of life of 70 parents of children with diabetes as well as the factors associated with these different parameters. It showed that psycho-affective difficulties are frequent among parents. Strategies must be developed and assessed to provide suitable psychological, medical and social support.