Invisible Scars: Traumatic Brain Injuries from Intimate Partner Violence
Understanding the Overlooked Neurological Consequences
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is any behavior within a close relationship that causes physical, sexual, or psychological harm. It affects nearly one in three women worldwide, making it the most common form of violence experienced by women.
While physical injuries from IPV may be visible and treated in hospitals, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) frequently go undetected. Repeated blows to the head, face, and neck are common during assaults, yet these head injuries are rarely identified, documented, or treated in IPV survivors.
Although nearly 3 million TBIs occur annually in the U.S., mostly from falls, accidents, and assaults, the true burden of IPV-related TBIs remains largely invisible due to chronic underreporting and medical oversight.
Who is most at risk?
Research shows that women are far more likely than men to experience TBIs as a result of domestic violence. In fact, between 27% and 100% of women with IPV histories report past head injuries. Unlike athletes or military personnel, these survivors are rarely evaluated for brain trauma.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual highlights IPV as a significant clinical concern, not just for its physical injuries, but as a risk factor for:
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Dissociative disorders, a group of conditions where a person may feel disconnected or detached from reality
Somatic symptoms, which include physical complaints like pain or fatigue that cause excessive worry and unhelpful health behaviors.
Sexual dysfunctions such as Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder
Yet, its long-term neurological and psychiatric consequences are often overlooked.
New Research on IPV and TBI
A new study called the Drake IPV Study explored how intimate partner violence-related physical abuse (IPV-PA) affects long-term mental health and brain health. Key findings from the 632 participants (aged 40–59) include:
Prevalence of IPV-PA:
14% (90 individuals) reported a history of IPV-related physical abuse
Survivors were 81% female, with abuse starting at an average age of 21 years and lasting nearly 7 years
Abuse had ended an average of 27 years prior to assessment, yet mental health impacts persisted
TBI Exposure Among IPV-PA Survivors:
88% reported blows to the head; 71% experienced multiple head injuries