The impact of prophylactic mastectomy on sexual well-being: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Considering the increasing women's awareness of health promotion and disease prevention programs, mutation carriers are inevitably asked to face important decisions concerning the possibility of undergoing prophylactic mastectomy. Risk-reducing mastectomy (RRM) has become increasingly more common, although it has a significant impact on women's quality of life and sexual well-being. OBJECTIVES: The systematic review aims to evaluate the impact of RRM on the sexuality of women with breast cancer. METHODS: According to Cochrane Collaboration guidelines and the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement, the study quantified the effects of frontline work on the mental health of healthcare workers. This review followed the PRISMA guidelines. Three databases were systematically searched from inception to December 2022. The expression ("sexuality" OR "sexual" OR "sex") AND ("prophylactic mastectomy" OR "risk-reducing mastectomy") was searched in PubMed, Ovid Medline, and Embase. Twenty-two articles published in English until 2022 were selected. RESULTS: Two studies investigated sexual experience after risk-reducing surgeries as a single outcome, while other studies analyzed the relationship between sexuality and psychosocial outcomes, risk perception, and satisfaction. In all of the included studies, significant findings in sexual dysfunction were found. The most reported problems were related to sexual satisfaction and attractiveness, body image, and loss of femininity. Last, women reported changes in the relationship with their partners. CONCLUSION: RRM has a major impact on body image that affects sexual functioning and quality of life. These implications must be considered during treatment selection.

The Sound of Grief: A Critical Discussion on the Experience of Creating and Listening to the Digitally Reproduced Voice of the Deceived.

Technological tools allow for the reproduction and control of peculiar stimuli, such as the possibility of producing audio clips with the voices of deceased people. Artificial intelligence allows to create at-home vocal messages from an audioclip. Recently, some videos and documentaries depicting people interacting with artificial intelligence content related to the deceased have been released to the general public. However, the possibility of interacting with realistic stimuli related to deceased loved ones can create peculiar and delicate experiences and should gain the attention of the scientific community and mental health professionals. Listening and searching for experiences related to the deceived ones might indicate a natural way to elaborate and live the experience of grieving or the presence of symptoms related to more severe conditions. Moreover, such powerful stimuli might be potentially harmful to users, if not appropriately used. To the best of our knowledge, no scientific literature exists on the topic of listening to audio clips with the voice of the deceased yet, although various people shared thoughts and feelings about these habits on social networks and forums. Given the relevant psychological impact that grief can have on a person, an open discussion on the possibility and risks of the availability of digital stimuli related to grief should be taken into account by the scientific community.

Personality Factors in Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review.

Background: The role of personality in cancer incidence and development has been studied for a long time. As colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent cancer types and linked with lifestyle habits, it is important to better understand its psychological correlates, in order to design a more specific prevention and intervention plan. The aim of this systematic review is to analyze all the studies investigating the role of personality in CRC incidence. Methods: All studies on CRC and personality up to November 2020 were scrutinized according to the Cochrane Collaboration and the PRISMA statements. Selected studies were additionally evaluated for the Risk of Bias according to the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Results: Eight studies met the inclusion criteria and were eventually included in this review. Two main constructs have been identified as potential contributors of CRC incidence: emotional regulation (anger) and relational style (egoism). Conclusion: Strong conclusions regarding the influence of personality traits on the incidence of CRC are not possible, because of the small number and the heterogeneity of the selected studies. Further research is needed to understand the complexity of personality and its role in the incidence of CRC and the interaction with other valuable risk factors.

Patients Living With Breast Cancer During the Coronavirus Pandemic: The Role of Family Resilience, Coping Flexibility, and Locus of Control on Affective Responses.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has strongly affected oncology patients. Many screening and treatment programs have been postponed or canceled, and such patients also experience fear of increased risk of exposure to the virus. In many cases, locus of control, coping flexibility, and perception of a supportive environment, specifically family resilience, can allow for positive emotional outcomes for individuals managing complex health conditions like cancer. This study aims to determine if family resilience, coping flexibility, and locus of control can mitigate the negative affect caused by the pandemic and enhance positive affect in breast cancer patients. One hundred and fifty-four female patients with breast cancer completed the Walsh's Family Resilience Questionnaire, the Perceived Ability to Cope With Trauma Scale, the Positive-Negative Affect Schedule, and the Mini Locus of Control Scale. Family resilience and internality of locus of control contribute significantly to positive affective responses. Family resilience is responsible for mitigating the negative affect perceived during the pandemic and is enhanced by external locus of control. Evidence suggests that clinical psychologists should develop and propose programs to support oncology patients' family resilience, coping flexibility, and internal locus of control, allowing for decreased stress and improved adaptability for effectively managing cancer treatment during the pandemic.