ACRN ACRN Psychosocial Support & Mental Health 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which screening tool is most commonly used to assess depression severity in HIV-positive patients?
- PHQ-9 (Correct answer)
- MMSE
- GCS
- CAGE
Correct answer: PHQ-9
The PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) is a validated, widely used tool for screening and monitoring depression severity in PLWH.
Question 2: What is the most prevalent psychiatric comorbidity in people living with HIV (PLWH)?
- Schizophrenia
- Depression (Correct answer)
- Bipolar disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Correct answer: Depression
Depression is the most common psychiatric comorbidity in PLWH, affecting approximately 30–40% of this population.
Question 3: When a patient with HIV discloses suicidal ideation, the nurse's FIRST priority is to:
- Notify the physician
- Document the disclosure
- Assess the immediacy and lethality of the plan (Correct answer)
- Contact family members
Correct answer: Assess the immediacy and lethality of the plan
The nurse must first assess the immediacy and lethality of the suicidal plan to determine the level of risk and guide the appropriate intervention.
Question 4: Which factor significantly increases the risk of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND)?
- High CD4 count
- Undetectable viral load
- Substance use disorders (Correct answer)
- Female sex
Correct answer: Substance use disorders
Substance use disorders, particularly methamphetamine and cocaine use, markedly increase the risk of developing HAND in HIV-positive individuals.
Question 5: An ACRN cares for a newly diagnosed HIV patient expressing shame and fear of rejection. Which therapeutic approach is MOST appropriate?
- Reassure the patient that HIV is no longer a death sentence
- Provide stigma reduction counseling and peer support resources (Correct answer)
- Advise the patient to disclose their status to all family members immediately
- Refer immediately to psychiatry
Correct answer: Provide stigma reduction counseling and peer support resources
Stigma reduction counseling and peer support help newly diagnosed patients manage internalized shame and fear while building a supportive network.
Question 6: Which intervention is MOST effective in reducing HIV-related stigma among healthcare workers?
- Mandatory HIV testing for all staff
- Education combined with direct contact with PLWH (Correct answer)
- Stricter universal precautions enforcement
- Anonymous reporting of stigmatizing incidents
Correct answer: Education combined with direct contact with PLWH
Evidence consistently shows that education paired with positive direct contact with PLWH most effectively reduces HIV-related stigma among healthcare providers.
ACRN ACRN Psychosocial Support & Mental Health 1
Which screening tool is most commonly used to assess depression severity in HIV-positive patients?