Domestic violence has long-term impact on mental health 

Women who experience physical abuse in the context of domestic violence are more likely to suffer from long-term mental health challenges, even decades after the abuse has ended, according to a new study published in the BMJ.

The research found that women who were exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) were more likely to report traumatic brain injury and experience long-term psychiatric conditions. The study is the first to link IPV with brain injury and long-term mental health.

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Approximately 30 per cent of women worldwide experience IPV in their lifetime, more commonly referred to as domestic violence. This type of physical violence puts women at risk of brain injury, but few studies have examined the consequences of IPV with traumatic brain injury and the long-term implications for brain health.

Using data from the PREVENT Dementia Study, a longitudinal study measuring brain health, the researchers analysed information from 632 participants, aged between 40 and 59, of whom 14 per cent reported a history of physical domestic violence. Participants were recruited from five sites across the UK and Ireland, and statistical analysis was applied to determine if IPV is associated with poorer mental health over a lifetime.

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When compared to women who had not experienced domestic abuse, women with IPV histories were more likely to have had traumatic brain injuries. Women who had experienced IPV also had higher rates of lifetime and ongoing mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, sleep disorders and other mental health issues. These impacts persisted throughout life, even though the abuse had, on average, ended 27 years before the assessment.

Amongst the women who had both IPV and traumatic brain injury, the risks of having PTSD symptoms and other mental health conditions were even higher than those of the women who had experienced IPV without traumatic brain injury.

Professor Willie Stewart, Honorary Professor at the University of Glasgow, who led the study, said: ‘Given its prevalence, these findings highlight domestic violence as a public health issue with potential for long-lasting impacts on brain health. Our work also reinforces the need for more research in this previously neglected area.’

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The researchers say their work highlights the importance of asking questions about domestic violence in both the academic and clinical settings and suggest that more awareness of this association will advance understanding of the long-term effects of IPV. In addition, the work highlights the necessity for healthcare providers to take into account the possibility of traumatic brain injury and long-term brain health issues when caring for patients who have suffered from domestic abuse.