Increase in intimate partner violence during pandemic is leading to more brain injuries

By Claire Holmes. This article was initially published in our Concussion Update newsletter; please consider subscribing.

Psychiatric Times recently released an article about the increase in gender-based intimate partner violence (IPV) since the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting increase in traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). UN Women has released information about the growing IPV against women during the pandemic; they report an increase in calls for IPV by 25-40% in many countries, and “an additional 15 million women would be affected by IPV for every three months of lockdown.”

Women who have experienced IPV are more likely to suffer from mental health issues which can also be symptoms of TBIs. Studies in Victoria, Australia, and Arizona, United States, found high percentages of IPV survivors had sustained at least one head injury. However, many IPV shelters and emergency departments do not evaluate for potential brain injuries from IPV, which most likely stems from a lack of training. There have been concerns about IPV-related TBIs and neurodegenerative diseases, but more research needs to be conducted.

The Brain Health Gap is a concept that “highlights and frames [gender] inequalities in all areas across the translational spectrum [of medicine] from bench-to-bedside and from boardroom-to-policy and economics.” Many institutions are calling for more medical studies focused on female-identifying individuals and their medical issues to address this issue. This awareness and increase in research will be integral for providing treatment for brain injuries resulting from IPV.