The Prevalence of Brain Injury Among Survivors and Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence and the Prevalence of Violence Victimization and Perpetration Among People With Brain Injury: a Scoping Review

Purpose of review The goal of this review is to address prevalence rates in four groups: (i) brain injury (BI) among intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors, (ii) BI among IPV perpetrators, (iii) IPV victimization among people with BI, and (iv) IPV perpetration among people with BI. PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched for peer-reviewed research articles that quantitatively examined IPV in relation to BI. Recent findings Thirty-two articles were included in the final review. Eighteen articles assessed the prevalence of BI among IPV survivors, 5 assessed the prevalence of fatal BI among samples of IPV homicide victims, 7 assessed the prevalence of BI among IPV perpetrators, 2 assessed the prevalence of IPV victimization among people with BI, and 0 assessed the prevalence of IPV perpetration among people with BI. Prevalence estimates varied considerably based on how BI was “defined,” the type of BI assessed, types of IPV included in the sample, and the measurement tool used, as well as whether the goal was to address TBI (28.1 to 100%) or strangulation-related inferred BI (27–56%). Estimates of BI among perpetrators of IPV range from 5 to 75%; and estimates of IPV victimization among people with BI range from 42.5 to 89%. Summary Reliance on small convenience samples is problematic when trying to determine the true extent of IPV-related BI. Epidemiological research is needed to improve the accuracy of the estimated prevalence of BI caused by IPV as well as IPV experiences among individuals with BI.