NCJ Number
219166
Journal
Trauma, Violence, & Abuse Volume: 8 Issue: 3 Dated: July 2007 Pages: 290-298
Date Published
July 2007
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This article reviews the small amount of literature on traumatic brain injuries experienced by victims of intimate partner violence as well as equivalent injuries suffered by athletes, with attention to symptoms and culturally relevant rehabilitation for such injuries.
Abstract
This review found that just over 80 percent of female victims of intimate partner violence who come to emergency departments or primary care for treatment have received facial injuries; however, mild traumatic brain injury is seldom diagnosed in such victims. Very little research has been conducted on brain injury as a result of intimate partner violence. Such injuries have been studied mostly in young male athletes. This research has produced strategies of assessment of mild traumatic brain injury, treatment, and prevention measures. Having a second brain injury before the healing of an earlier brain trauma has been shown to result in poor memory, poor judgment, inability to perform at the prior level of achievement, and even death in the most severe cases. Victims of intimate partner violence are at high risk of such second-impact injury. As a standard of care, practitioners who work with victims of intimate partner violence should screen for head injuries and symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury. Referrals should be made for neuropsychological assessment and rehabilitation. Ideal neuropsychologically informed treatment involves a multidisciplinary model, with psychotherapy being only one method. Outcome studies are required in order to determine the effectiveness of culturally relevant neuropsychological rehabilitation for victims of intimate partner violence. 1 table and 67 references