CARN Assessment and Diagnosis 2

Question 1

A patient scoring 15 on the CIWA-Ar (Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol) should be managed with which intervention?

Accepted Answer

Pharmacological treatment with benzodiazepines

Answer

A CIWA-Ar score of 15 or higher indicates severe alcohol withdrawal requiring pharmacological intervention, typically with benzodiazepines.

Question 2

When assessing a patient for opioid use disorder, which physical finding is most consistent with chronic opioid use?

Accepted Answer

Track marks and venous sclerosis at injection sites

Answer

Track marks and venous sclerosis are classic physical signs of repeated intravenous opioid use.

Question 3

The DSM-5 diagnoses substance use disorder on a severity continuum. Which combination of criteria count correctly defines 'severe' SUD?

Accepted Answer

6 or more criteria

Answer

DSM-5 classifies SUD as mild (2-3 criteria), moderate (4-5 criteria), and severe (6 or more criteria).

Question 4

A patient in opioid withdrawal reports severe muscle cramping, diarrhea, and yawning. Using the COWS scale, which domain captures the yawning symptom?

Accepted Answer

Autonomic signs

Answer

Yawning is scored under autonomic signs on the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS).

Question 5

Which screening tool is specifically validated for identifying unhealthy alcohol use in primary care settings?

Accepted Answer

AUDIT-C

Answer

The AUDIT-C is a validated 3-item screen derived from the full AUDIT, specifically designed for rapid detection of unhealthy alcohol use in primary care.

(CARN) Certified Addictions Registered Nurse Practice Test

(CARN) Certified Addictions Registered Nurse Practice Test

CARN Assessment and Diagnosis 2