Which of the following is an example of a physical/external condition that could contribute to a person in crisis?

• A. Traumatic brain injury
• B. Chronic back pain
• C. Hearing impairment
• D. Dehydration

Answer: (A)

Traumatic brain injury is a physical condition caused by an external event that damages the brain. This kind of injury can disrupt thinking, judgment, mood, and behavior, making a person more prone to agitation, confusion, and poor decision-making during a crisis. The external cause and the clear physical impact on brain function are what make this the best example of an external physical factor contributing to crisis.

The other options are less fitting for an external injury: chronic back pain is a ongoing physical condition but not necessarily tied to an external triggering event; hearing impairment is a sensory limitation that affects communication rather than being an external injury; dehydration is a physiological state that stems from bodily fluid loss and is internal rather than an external physical injury.