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Traumatic Brain Injury and Domestic Violence

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Information for Domestic Violence Service Providers


A victim of domestic violence who has a brain injury may have difficulty doing many of the things that will help her with both immediate safety and long-term freedom from abuse, such as:


Brain injury makes it harder to deal with domestic violence.
  • Accurately assessing danger (e.g., knowing when her partner’s violence is escalating).
  • Defending herself against, or escaping from, physical or sexual assault.
  • Judging when she needs medical care.
  • Keeping advocacy, counseling or medical appointments, or court dates.
  • Making and remembering safety plans.4
  • Going to school or holding a job (increasing her financial dependency on the abuser).
  • Leaving her abusive partner.
  • Living on her own; finding accessible housing.
  • Accessing domestic violence services and other needed services.
  • Adapting to living in a shelter.

Next: What is Traumatic Brain Injury?


  1. Bennett, L. & Bland, P., Substance Abuse and Intimate Partner Violence, 2008, p 6.