Brain Injuries and Domestic Violence

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. Thanks to annual awareness-raising campaigns and news reporting, many of us are probably familiar with the elevated risks that some groups face for brain injuries, such as military personnel in combat zones and athletes in contact sports.

But there’s another group for whom brain injuries are all too common with potentially serious and sometimes deadly consequences: victims of intimate partner violence.

Here are three things to know about brain injuries and intimate partner violence:

1. Brain injury is common among people victimized by intimate partners.

I’ve spent decades studying the consequences of trauma, particularly intimate abuse. Like many trauma psychologists, much of my work has focused on the psychological causes of harm. For example, research on betrayal trauma theory helps explain how and why closeness in the victim-perpetrator relationship predicts a range of posttraumatic harms, including physical and psychological health impacts.

In more recent years, many trauma researchers—including my team—have turned attention to the impact of physical injuries to the head and neck that have potentially serious implications for brain health. More than 40 research studies now show that mild brain injuries are common among people victimized by intimate partners, particularly women. For example, my team found that one in two women who were victims in domestic violence cases reported to law enforcement screened positive for a mild traumatic brain injury at some point in their lives. Mild traumatic brain injuries typically refer to instances where a blow to the head led to an alteration in consciousness or loss of consciousness that lasted less than 30 minutes.

The brain can also be injured when deprived of oxygen, sometimes called anoxic brain injuries, such as when someone is strangled. Strangulation is all too common in intimate partner abuse, with consequences that can be deadly, and should be taken very seriously.

2. Several kinds of problems are common after brain injuries.

Recognizing brain injuries among people victimized by intimate partners is important for making sense of posttraumatic symptoms. Brain injuries can contribute to persistent problems, some of which overlap with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety symptoms that can also be common after trauma.

For example, our research team found that women who screened positive for mild brain injuries described three persistent problems, on average. The most common problems were headaches, trouble remembering things, difficulty finding the right words, and attention difficulties. Among the attention difficulties were problems with distraction and concentration.

Beyond cognitive difficulties, brain injuries are linked with other kinds of problems. For example, brain injuries can result in physical difficulties related to balance, dizziness, vision, and fatigue. Emotional changes can include problems regulating emotions as well as feelings of sadness or irritability. Brain injuries are also linked with changes in sleep, such as drowsiness or sleeping more or less than usual.

Most people fully recover from these kinds of problems after a single, mild brain injury. Consider, for example, an instance of a sports-related concussion in which the person who suffered the injury is pulled from the game and the brain is given time to heal. In many such instances, the brain recovers without long-term consequences. Unfortunately, for many who are surviving intimate partner abuse, brain injuries can be more frequent and/or severe, which can make it more difficult for the brain to heal.

3. Supports are available for persons with brain injuries and their loved ones.

There are a variety of resources available for persons with brain injuries and their loved ones. For example, educational materials can help people learn about the range of possible physical, emotional, and cognitive consequences of brain injury and how to adapt to support someone with an injury. Additionally, support groups, classes, and workshops can help people learn new ways to cope with changes caused by brain injuries. The National Association of State Head Injury Administrators has links to state resources across the United States. Recognizing the connection between brain injury and domestic violence, agencies are also beginning to create resources for survivors of intimate abuse and their loved ones. For example, the Ohio Domestic Violence Network has developed educational resources for survivors and their loved ones.

Domestic Violence Essential Reads

Denial for the Perpetrator and Survivor of Intimate Partner Abuse

7 Red Flags That May Predict Intimate Partner Violence

From Awareness to Action

You can take steps this March to translate your awareness of brain injury and domestic violence into action. For example, you might check out what brain injury services are available in your community so that you’re ready to help loved ones connect with resources and medical care.

Of course, the best way to prevent brain injuries in intimate partner violence is to prevent that abuse from happening in the first place. We each share an interest in ending intimate violence, regardless of our direct experiences, as I explore in Every 90 Seconds: Our Common Cause Ending Violence Against Women. Maybe you’re an educator who sees the consequences of brain injuries and violence in your classrooms. Or a business owner who wants your employees to thrive. Maybe you’re a health care provider who sees the impacts of head injuries in your practice or a loved one of a survivor. Each of us can play a role in ending intimate violence.