Collective trauma transmission and traumatic reactions among descendants of Armenian refugees.
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.


OBJECTIVE
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, University Campus, Dragana, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
Hatsantour
H
Karenian
Miltos
M
Livaditis
Sirpouhi
S
Karenian
Kyriakos
K
Zafiriadis
Valentini
V
Bochtsou
Kiriakos
K
Xenitidis
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001136:Armenia / Q000208:ethnology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003535:Cyprus; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D016901:Intergenerational Relations / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000208:ethnology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000266:history; D055815:Young Adult