Traumatic Brain Injury Among Women Veterans: An Invisible Wound of Intimate Partner Violence

BACKGROUND:Intimate partner violence (IPV) is prevalent among women Veterans and is known to increase women’s risk for traumatic brain injury (TBI). IPV-related TBI has not been examined in the women Veteran population. OBJECTIVES:To identify the occurrence of IPV-related TBI in a sample of women Ve...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Medical care 2015-04, Vol.53 (4), p.S112-S119
Main Authors: Iverson, Katherine M., Pogoda, Terri K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Brain Injuries - epidemiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depression - epidemiology
Domestic violence
Female
Health Status Indicators
Humans
Mental Health
Middle Aged
New England - epidemiology
Post traumatic stress disorder
Risk Factors
Socioeconomic Factors
Spouse Abuse
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - epidemiology
Surveys and Questionnaires
Traumatic brain injury
United States - epidemiology
Veterans
Women
Women's Health
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Summary:BACKGROUND:Intimate partner violence (IPV) is prevalent among women Veterans and is known to increase women’s risk for traumatic brain injury (TBI). IPV-related TBI has not been examined in the women Veteran population. OBJECTIVES:To identify the occurrence of IPV-related TBI in a sample of women Veterans and examine the associations of IPV-related TBI with sociodemographic characteristics, health symptoms, health care utilization, and IPV experiences. RESEARCH DESIGN:Cross-sectional mail survey conducted in 2013. SUBJECTS:The sample comprised 176 New England Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) women Veteran patients. MEASURES:Self-reported IPV-related TBI was assessed with a modified VA TBI screening tool. The survey included validated measures of depression (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; Posttraumatic Disorder Checklist) symptoms, as well as overall mental and physical health (SF-12), and IPV (Conflict Tactics Scales-Revised-2). Questions assessed past-year VA and non-VA health care use. RESULTS:A total of 18.8% (n=33) met screening criteria for IPV-related TBI history. Women who experienced IPV-related TBI reported significantly higher depression (mean Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale scores26.6 vs. 20.7, P
ISSN:0025-7079
1537-1948
DOI:10.1097/MLR.0000000000000263