Screening for History of TBI Among Women Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence
Though both genders can experience intimate partner violence (IPV), the
vast majority of victims are women. Most injuries caused by IPV are located
on the head and face, and up to one fifth of these injuries can be classified
as a concussion or
traumatic brain injury (TBI). This can cause significant physical, cognitive, and emotional impairments
in both the long and short term.
A recent study proposed a TBI screening system for women who have experienced
IPV. The proposed framework of criteria for an effective assessment tool
included safe and private screening for IPV victims, IPV knowledge, and
sensitivity training for medical staff. They evaluated nine TBI assessment
tools currently in use as potential screening for victims of IPV and found
that none met their framework’s criteria. The Brain Injury Screening
Questionnaire (BISQ) and the Ohio State University TBI Identification
Method (OSU TBI-ID) came close to accommodating the new framework, but
was not rigorous enough to meet all the criteria important for assessing
victims of IPV.
Many TBI screening methods are aimed at athletes and school-aged children,
and these screening tools assume that TBI is the result of an accident
rather than assault. Identification of a TBI is the first step toward
an appropriate treatment plan, so employing a modified screening framework
is crucial for women whose IPV-related TBI may otherwise go undetected.
Source: Goldin Y, Haag HL, Trott CT. Screening for history of traumatic
brain Injury among women exposed to intimate partner violence. Physical
Medicine and Rehabilitation. (May 2016).
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