Virtual-reality-based assessment may be a good alternative to classical or computerized neuropsychological assessment due to increased ecological validity. ClinicaVR: Classroom-CPT (VC) is a neuropsychological test embedded in virtual reality that is designed to assess attention deficits in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or other conditions associated with impaired attention. The present study aimed to (1) investigate the diagnostic validity of VC in comparison to a traditional continuous performance test (CPT), (2) explore the task difficulty of VC, (3) address the effect of distractors on the performance of ADHD participants and typically-developing (TD) controls, and (4) compare the two measures on cognitive absorption. A total of 33 children diagnosed with ADHD and 42 TD children, aged between 7 and 13 years, participated in the study and were tested with a traditional CPT or with VC, along with several cognitive measures and an adapted version of the Cognitive Absorption Scale. A mixed multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) revealed that the children with ADHD performed worse on correct responses had more commissions and omissions errors than the TD children, as well as slower target reaction times . The results showed significant differences between performance in the virtual environment and the traditional computerized one, with longer reaction times in virtual reality. The data analysis highlighted the negative influence of auditory distractors on attention performance in the case of the children with ADHD, but not for the TD children. Finally, the two measures did not differ on the cognitive absorption perceived by the children.

Young people who end up in the justice system have an increased risk for mental health problems, which may contribute to delinquent behavior and can affect the rehabilitation process. The aim of the study was to identify the presence of the psychiatric symptoms in adolescents with delinquent behavior.We studied 51 adolescents with delinquent behavior such as theft (35), fight (6) and roguery (10), examined within the forensic psychiatric expertise in Timisoara, aged 14-18 years, all males and a control group of 47 males adolescents without delinquent behavior, with the same characteristics. It was used Youth Self Report from the battery of tests ASEBA (Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment).The results showed that juvenile offenders had higher scores with clinical significance on symptoms of anxious/depressed (11,8%), withdrawn/depressed (15,7%) as well as the rule-breaking (31,4%) and aggressive behavior (15,7%) and also affective problems (13,7%), ADHD problems (20%) and conduct problems (26%), according to DSM-IV. The correlation's analysis showed a strong correlation between internalizing and externalizing symptoms, especially between affective problems and behavioral problems of delinquent adolescents.The relationship between delinquency and psychiatric disorders, although being a complex one, reveals that juvenile offenders are at high risk for psychopathology in adult life; the diagnosis and the effective treatment of psychiatric disorders may reduce the risk of delinquent behavior and the relapses, the absence of psychiatric treatment could contributes to the increased of crime rates and the psychiatric disorders in the adult life.

IntroductionOncology-related illnesses have become quite frequent in our lives. Lately, medical progress in the field of oncology has led to an increase in the survival rates of people diagnosed with cancer. The minimisation of disturbances in the lives of these people is done by each on their own, by using defence mechanisms and coping skills.ObjectivesTo identify the coping and defence mechanisms of subjects diagnosed with cancer compared with non-clinical subjects.AimsTo increase quality of life of subjects diagnosed with cancer through psychotherapy interventions.MethodNineteen subjects diagnosed with cancer who were receiving chemotherapy were recruited to the study. For comparison, a control group of non-clinical participants were also recruited. Participants were included into the study according to particular inclusion/exclusion criteria. The evaluation was conducted during 2014 and consisted of the analysis of the following parameters: socio-demographic data, clinical data, defence mechanisms (DSQ-60) and coping mechanisms (COPE scale).ResultsThe group of subjects diagnosed with cancer demonstrated the presence of defence mechanisms of the following type: passive aggressiveness, projection and coping mechanisms that were characterised by an emphasis on social support. The control group had defence mechanisms of the following types: repression, denial and coping mechanisms that focused on emotions.ConclusionsThere are differences in defence and coping mechanisms between subjects with cancer compared to the non-clinical group. It may be that defence and coping mechanisms can be optimized through psychotherapy interventions to increase quality of life.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.