Blog
Brain injury from intimate partner violence–a medical provider resource
There is a significant gap in knowledge and guidance on handling IPV-related injuries among medical providers. To address this gap, Canadian organizations have collaborated to develop a resource to aid healthcare professionals in understanding and managing these injuries effectively.
Connections between intimate partner violence, traumatic brain injury, and neurological disease–but not CTE
A recent study of the brains of 84 deceased women who experienced intimate partner violence found that the brains consistently showed signs of traumatic brain injury but that none met the criteria for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
Pilot program will screen domestic violence survivors for TBIs when they enter shelters
Pilot program will screen 420 domestic violence survivors for “traumatic brain injuries and concussions” as they enter seven emergency safehouses and shelters.
Recommended reading – Impact: Women Writing After Concussion
Impact: Women Writing After Concussion is an anthology containing the stories of 21 women writers reflecting on how their personal and professional lives have changed following experience with concussion.
Radio program on survivors of domestic violence living with traumatic brain injury
We recommend a 47-minute radio special, An ''invisible epidemic'': Survivors of domestic violence on living with traumatic brain injury. The program is a feature of WBUR radio's On Point program and played on NPR across the United States.
The Impacts of COVID-19 on Service Providers and Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence and Brain Injury
Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects up to 1 in 3 women over their lifetime. COVID-19 has intensified this problem. The intersection of IPV and brain injury (BI) remains relatively understudied. However, this study, published in Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, focused on improving understanding of intimate partner violence and brain injury.
Brian-injured intimate partner violence survivor explains why we need TBI screenings for both perpetrators and victims of crimes
In an article published in The Marshall Project, Melissa Bickford details her experience with intimate partner violence and the subsequent impact of the TBI she suffered as a result. Connecting with a previously incancerated man made Bickford realize that the psycho-emotional and physical fallout of a brain injury can push victims to become perpetrators.
Increase in intimate partner violence during pandemic is leading to more brain injuries
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.”
Interview with Dr. Eve Valera, Leading Researcher in the field of IPV and TBI
Concussion Alliance interview with Dr. Eve Valera, research scientist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Associate Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Valera studies Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and domestic-violence-induced traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in women.