Military veterans living with persistent symptoms after a concussion are at higher risk of committing intimate partner violence (IPV), a new study has revealed.
In a survey of more than 800 veterans who sought follow-up care after a head injury sustained in the line of duty, almost half reported committing domestic violence against a loved one.
The risk among post 9/11 veterans was found to be higher, with up to 60 per cent of those reporting engaging in IPV, with almost a third reporting their partner is afraid of them.
Through the increased use of improvised explosive devices in post-9/11 conflicts, along with improvements in military protective equipment, recently returning veterans are more likely to experience and survive traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) than previous generations, research has revealed – making them vulnerable to the consequences of that.
The researchers from Yale University concluded that after controlling for common predictors of IPV, including binge drinking, marijuana use, pain intensity, and probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), post concussion symptoms were the most significant predictor of IPV perpetration.
The team said they hoped the research would help inform more tailored treatment and support for veterans who sustain head injury.
“Given post-9/11 veterans’ elevated risk for head injury, our findings demonstrate that the assessment and treatment of persistent post concussion symptoms can be a path to decreasing IPV perpetration and increasing relationship functioning,” said Dr Galina A. Portnoy, assistant professor of psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine.
“Understanding IPV perpetration in the context of veterans’ post-service injuries also offers a holistic conceptualization and reduces stigma, which can lead to enhanced opportunities for targeted intervention.”
Dr Portnoy is director of the IPV Center for Innovation and Research at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System in West Haven. The centre is a national IPV Assistance Program Innovation Hub which develops, disseminates, implements and evaluates innovative, high-quality, veteran-centred, trauma-informed, and recovery-oriented practices for IPV detection, prevention, and treatment.
Researchers say physicians will be better positioned to prevent IPV if they can better understand how persistent post concussion symptoms affect behaviour.
“We recommend that assessing and treating head injury in clinical practice should go beyond education and symptom management to include targeted treatment of persistent post concussion symptoms, including relationship health and safety,” Dr Portnoy said.
