LMSW Practice Test

A client at a mental health clinic who has been diagnosed HIV positive and now has AIDS has stopped working. As the illness progresses, he is uncharacteristically depressed and apathetic. He has memory lapses, has difficulty concentrating, appears confused and withdraws socially from friends and family. At the most recent interview, the social worker noticed that he walked with a slight shuffle. The social worker might attribute these changes to

1. a consequence of being shunned by his friends and family.

2. growing depression associated with the client's life situation.

3. physical and mental symptoms associated with the physiological effects of HIV.

4. diminished mental and physical capacity engendered by the client's growing physical weakness.

The correct answer is: a consequence of being shunned by his friends and family.

The most relevant factor that could explain the client's observable changes is the physical and mental symptoms associated with the physiological effects of HIV. HIV, particularly in its advanced stages such as AIDS, can lead to a range of cognitive and physical impairments due to the virus affecting the central nervous system and overall health. Symptoms like memory lapses, difficulty concentrating, confusion, and a change in mobility, such as the slight shuffle observed, are commonly associated with the neurological impacts of HIV disease. The other options, while they may contextualize aspects of the client’s experience, do not directly address the physiological changes that occur with the progression of HIV/AIDS. Although social withdrawal and depression can be exacerbated by social factors such as stigma and shunning, they do not primarily explain the physical manifestations noted. Similarly, the diminished mental and physical capacities discussed in another option might refer to the consequences of the illness, but they do not specifically pinpoint the direct link between HIV and the neurological symptoms displayed by the client. Ultimately, understanding the interplay between the physiological progression of HIV and the client's mental health is essential for providing appropriate care and interventions.