How is TBI distinguished from mental health conditions, such as PTSD?
A4. Traumatic brain injury is a neurologic injury with possible physical, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional symptoms. Like all injuries, TBI is most appropriately and accurately diagnosed as soon as possible after the injury. TBI is not a mental health condition. The range of TBI includes mild, moderate, severe, and penetrating. Well after the injury event, Soldiers may have residual symptoms from a TBI and new or emerging PTSD symptoms. If the TBI has not been previously identified or documented, an accurate description of the traumatic events in theater usually allows a well-trained clinician to make a distinction between TBI and PTSD or other mental health conditions.
