Question

In a busy clinical practice setting, the simplest neuropsychological test to diagnose HIV dementia is? a. Standard Mini-Mental Status test b. HIV-dementia scale c. Memorial Sloan Kettering Scale d. Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery e. San Diego HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center

Short answer

Answer: b. HIV-dementia scale

Step-by-step solution

Understanding the terms

It's important to understand what each option refers to in terms of neuropsychological tests. Understand the purpose and complexity of each test: a. Standard Mini-Mental Status test: This test is a quick cognitive assessment tool that screens for cognitive impairment. It is brief and easy to administer but not specific to HIV dementia. b. HIV-dementia scale: This scale is designed to screen specifically for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders, including HIV dementia. c. Memorial Sloan Kettering Scale: This scale is used primarily to assess cognitive dysfunction in cancer patients, not for HIV dementia. d. Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery: This comprehensive battery of tests measures cognitive and neuropsychological functioning but takes much longer to administer. e. San Diego HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center: This is not a test but rather a research center for studying HIV neurobehavioral disorders.

Evaluating the best option

Now that we understand the purpose and complexity of each test, we can determine which one is the simplest and most appropriate for diagnosing HIV dementia in a busy clinical practice setting. Since the question asks for the simplest test, we can focus on the specific purposes and lengths of each test to decide which one fits the criteria best.

Choose the best option

Based on the information given in Step 2, the HIV-dementia scale is the most appropriate choice for diagnosing HIV dementia in a busy clinical practice setting. It is specifically designed for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders, and it is also a quick and simple test. Therefore, the answer is: b. HIV-dementia scale