Abstract
Quantitative-categorial and qualitative-dimensional analyses of consciousness show how this latter is a well-organized albeit limited whole of meanings and dimensions, as well as a temporary, transitory and synchronic structure. A number of evidence show that there is a spontaneous transformative ability of the consciousness, across its different stages with no conditioning by the environment. The electrophysiological analysis and the Brain CT-scan techniques show different stages of the consciousness, its transition either from alertness to sleep or from excited hyper-alertness to the absence of consciousness (disease). The aim of this work is to clarify: how awareness organizes itself through the structure of the consciousness field; how syntony between consciousness and related neurophysiological processes as well as individual and alterego polarity lay at the bases of somatic life, and namely in its adaptability to each environmental situation.

Abstract
Balanced and constant exercising – for disabled people as well – is useful at any age. Most of the retired elderly have a lot of free time. Cultural clubs, universities for the elderly, associations, active groups and other kinds of grouping might be useful in promoting integration and stimulating elderly’s interests and creativity, as well as in offering new opportunities and perspectives for a more active and valuable life. Nevertheless, exercise seems to be increasingly important to this purpose. Indeed, a number of elderly people regularly exercise – running, cycling, swimming, skiing, climbing, playing tennis, doing gymnastic – and often practice Eastern techniques, such as yoga and Tai Ji Quan. This latter is a soft martial art consisting in simple movements and meditation. It’s an old Chinese art which requires slow, circular, harmonic and rhythmic body movements, good concentration, specific abdominal breathing, good balance and ability to relax. Tai Ji Quan is often practiced in groups and is very useful for the elderly. Researchers, indeed, have shown that it helps improving quality of life, as well as physical and mental health. Higher efficiency and coordination abilities, as well as increased muscular tonus, elasticity and dynamism were found in the elderly who regularly practice Tai Ji Quan than in control groups. For most of the elderly, it is either their first experience with exercising, or a resumption of physical activity practiced many years earlier. Therefore, it is very important to gradually start training with soft and short programmes under the supervision of a personal trainer. Even though Tai Ji Quan requires several months of exercising to be correctly learned, it seems to meet the above-mentioned needs of the elderly. It improves the perception of one’s own body and helps in daily living activities. Moreover, it is useful in prevention and treatment of a number of illnesses and specific diseases, as well as in socialization.

Abstract
Objective: to investigate the effectiveness of a Forced-Choice Recognition Memory Test for Numbers to detect malingering or exaggeration of cognitive impairments in order to obtain compensation. Subjects: Malingering was assessed in 2 groups of 50 normal subjects and in 3 groups of subjects with varying diseases: mild head trauma (30), initial Alzheimer’s (20) and mild Alzheimer’s Disease (20), and Mental Retardation (n 20). Method: The Forced-choice Recognition Memory Test for Numbers requires subjects to identify which of the two five-digit numbers shown on a card was the same as the number previously seen for a short period. Two sets of 18 trials include delays of 5 and 10 sec, for a total of 36 trials. Results: Normal subjects who were asked to answer in a random manner performed correctly in 47% of cases, whereas those following the standard procedure were classified at the highest levels. Performance of Alzheimer patients (AD), especially those with initial AD, was equivalent to that of normal subjects. Only a few impairments were found in the group of subjects with mental retardation. Both groups of subjects with varying diseases averaged 90% of correct responses, unlike the group of suspected malingerers TBI, whose correct responses averaged only 25%. Moreover, TBI showed an inconsistency between initial injury severity and the level of neuropsychological test performance. Conclusions: The findings suggest that financial incentives and inconsistency in performance levels are important risk factors with regard to invalid performance during neuropsychological evaluations of subjects with head trauma. The Forced-Choice Recognition Memory Test for Numbers appears to offer a good support to detect this possible influence. This Test is a very short and quick procedure that doesn’t require any complex attentive, perceptive and mnesic processes. Even a few errors should raise the suspicion of poor motivation on such a simple test. In fact, administering this task to groups with mild Alzheimer’s Disease and mental retardation showed that both groups almost always scored correctly. A substantial impairment that cannot be explained by clinical and historical evidence on its severity seems to be due to the attempt of amplifying the disorders malingered. This test is easier and quicker than the other clinical tests currently available, and results are useful in correctly classifying patients and malingerer. Therefore, it can be used in neuropsychological assessment, especially in insurance and litigation contexts. However, malingering detection needs a thorough neuropsychological examination in conjunction with careful clinical studies and case-history investigation. Only this holistic approach will bring out performance discrepancies that are inconsistent with normal neuropsychological expectations, simultaneously avoiding underestimation of real cognitive dysfunctions.

Abstract
Self-injurious behaviour is defined as an aggressive behaviour against one’s own body; it’s a large and complex phenomenon which has recently made the object of specialized literature. Self-injurious behaviours are usually assessed either with assessment scales that generally focus on inappropriate behaviours (DASH-II, BPI-01), or with specific instruments (TSIBS, SIT). The SRCS (Scale for Detection of Self-Injurious Behaviours) is a scale that assesses – systematically and in detail – self-injurious behaviours, taking simultaneously into consideration several variables, such as: body locations, type of behaviours, behaviour occurrence rate, support required. The psychometric analysis of this scale showed positive reliability and validity results.

Abstract
This paper describes the SVAPP assessment scale (Psychological Characteristics Assessment Scale) to be used with people with mental retardation (MR) before undergoing surgery. This scale allows the medical staff to acquire clear and immediate information on the psychological characteristics of people with cognitive impairments as well as to understand their attitudes in order to better deal with the peculiarities of their disease and improve the quality of medical services delivered. Focusing on behavioural as well as affective characteristics facilitates a better management of patients, thus reducing the possibility that the surgery might be experimented as negative and devastating. This scale was developed at Troina-based Oasi Maria SS. Research Institute, and namely by the Unit of Psychology, in collaboration with the Anaesthesiology Service. It was used with 25 people with different degrees of mental retardation who underwent dental surgery.

Abstract
Job represents the longed-for goal of each person, especially of adults with disabilities. Indeed, job helps reaching a complete relational and structural maturation of the identity, by which human beings accomplish the social project of their life. Our research aims at seizing current situation on education and job search of disabled people after school, based on the Italian legislation; moreover, it aims at studying the social and job working integration of adults with disabilities after school, by highlighting structural, social and cultural constraints and resources. The collection of research data was carried out on a sample of adults with disabilities living in Southern Italy, as well as on public and private firms in the same regional area. The survey highlighted a persisting social disadvantage concerning social and job search of adults with disabilities, despite the fact that culture of integration has already started taking roots and foundations of positive perspectives for a better development have been already laid.

Abstract
It is reported a series of contributions on the concept of Workaholism, the pathological addiction to work. Several definitions of workaholism are provided, starting with hypothesis on its etiology, still uncertain and limited to a few experimental interventions. Measurement instruments so far developed are selected and introduced, in particular the two instruments mainly used by the scientific community: the WorkBat (Spence & Robbins, 1992) and the Wart (Robinson, 1995). These tests were considered based on their psychometric characteristics as well as subsequent critical works. This study summarizes a series of papers on the association between workaholim and disorders of body and mental well-being, particularly stress and Type-A behaviour. Conclusions of this paper are meant to be a critical starting point vis-à-vis of the studies so far developed, by highlighting what makes them weaker from a scientific perspective.