North Carolina Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) State Practice Exam

A key characteristic of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is that it affects mental health negatively. TBIs can lead to a range of cognitive, emotional, and psychological issues, including changes in mood, personality, and behavior, as well as difficulties in concentration and memory. These effects can manifest immediately after the injury or develop over time as the individual recovers.

While it is true that TBIs can be caused by intentional acts (such as violence), this is not a defining characteristic, as TBIs can also result from accidents or unintentional injuries. Additionally, TBIs are not limited to sports—while sports-related injuries are common, TBI can occur in various situations, including falls, car accidents, and assaults. The visibility of TBIs on scans like CT or MRI is also not guaranteed; some TBIs can be present without visible changes in brain structure, as symptoms can arise from functional rather than structural damage. Thus, the negative impact on mental health serves as a prominent and crucial aspect of understanding TBI.