Background: It has been suggested, mainly by case reports, that the collective trauma generated by mass calamities may be transmitted to, and have long-lasting effects on, new generations. Aims: To investigate the psychological impact on contemporary Armenians of traumatic events suffered by Armenians during the period 1914—1918. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study investigating demographic and cultural characteristics of a population of 689 people of Armenian origin, residents of Greece and Cyprus. Subjects were recruited during a range of Armenian cultural, athletic or charitable events. The participants completed a version of the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (Self-Rating) Scale and a questionnaire including ad hoc questions regarding their relationship to the Armenian community, their attitudes and their source of information about the 1914—1918 events. Results: Over a third (35.7%) of participants presented at least sub-clinical forms of such reactions during long periods of their lives. Women, older people, participants with a close relative lost during the events and those with strong connections to the Armenian community were more vulnerable. Conclusion: The results are indicative of a long-lasting (though gradually fading) cross-generational traumatizing effect of the discussed events. Clinicians having to deal with patients belonging to cultural or ethnic groups that suffered persecutions in the past should take into account the probable effects caused by a trauma-transmission mechanism.

Aim: The treatment of major mental disorders usually combines medical and psychosocial interventions. The present study reviews research pertaining to the efficacy of group psychosocial interventions for people with psychotic illness.

Background/Objectives: Breast reconstruction (BR) following mastectomy plays a critical role in post-cancer care by offering both physical and psychological benefits. Despite advancements in techniques and shared decision-making (SDM), BR uptake remains inconsistent. This systematic review aims to synthesize evidence on objective (medical and socioeconomic) and subjective (psychological and personal) factors influencing BR decision-making among women undergoing mastectomy for breast cancer. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, ScienceDirect, OVID, and Google Scholar, identifying peer-reviewed studies published between January 2013 and 25 July 2024. Eligible studies examined determinants of BR decisions in women undergoing therapeutic mastectomy, excluding perspectives of non-patient stakeholders and post-decision outcomes. The risk of bias and study quality were assessed using the Quality Appraisal for Diverse Studies (QuADS) tool. This review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023456198) and followed PRISMA guidelines. Results: Twenty-seven studies comprising 994,528 participants across 16 countries met the inclusion criteria. The objective factors included age, comorbidities, insurance coverage, physician recommendations, and healthcare access. The subjective factors encompassed body image concerns, self-esteem, fear of recurrence, and emotional readiness. Younger age, private insurance, and active physician counseling were associated with increased BR uptake, while older age, lack of information, and financial or logistical barriers reduced uptake. Regional disparities were noted across healthcare systems. Conclusions: BR decisions are influenced by complex, interrelated clinical, psychological, and systemic factors. Integrating SDM tools, enhancing patient education, and addressing healthcare inequities are essential for supporting informed and equitable BR decision-making. Future research should prioritize longitudinal studies and policy interventions to improve access to and patient satisfaction with BR outcomes.

Background/Objectives: Despite the psychological benefits of breast reconstruction (BR) after mastectomy, uptake remains limited among women with breast cancer. This study explores psychosocial and personality predictors of BR intentions in the pre-mastectomy phase, aiming to inform strategies for mental health promotion in oncology care. Methods: This cross-sectional analysis used preoperative data from a longitudinal study at a university hospital in Greece. Women with primary breast cancer scheduled for mastectomy completed a battery of validated self-report measures, including the International Personality Item Big-Five Factor Markers (IPIP-BFFM), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36). Demographic, clinical, and psychosocial data were also collected. Binary logistic regression was used to examine predictors of (a) BR information-seeking and (b) BR intention. Results: Seventy-four women participated (mean age = 61.1 years). Older age predicted lower BR intention (Exp(b) = 0.897, 95% CI: 0.829–0.970) and information-seeking (Exp(b) = 0.925, 95% CI: 0.859–0.997). Single/divorced status was associated with reduced BR information-seeking (Exp(b) = 0.053, 95% CI: 0.005–0.549). Openness to experience significantly predicted both outcomes (BR information-seeking: Exp(b) = 1.115, 95% CI: 1.028–1.209); BR intention: Exp(b) = 1.095, 95% CI: 1.016–1.181). Higher physical health-related QoL scores were associated with increased BR intention (Exp(b) = 1.039, 95% CI: 1.007–1.072), whereas higher mental health-related QoL (Exp(b) = 0.952, 95% CI: 0.912–0.994) and higher depression scores (Exp(b) = 0.797, 95% CI: 0.638–0.996) were linked to decreased BR intent. No psychological factor significantly predicted information-seeking. Conclusions: These findings underscore the value of psychosocial screening and personality-informed counseling prior to surgery. By identifying individuals less likely to seek information or consider BR, pre-mastectomy assessments can contribute to tailored, mental health-promoting interventions and support informed, patient-centered surgical decision-making.