B – 50 Cognitive and Mental Health Outcomes After Repetitive Brain Injury in a Community Sample of Women Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence

Abstract Objective Approximately one in three women in the United States will experience severe physical intimate partner violence (IPV). Women who experience physical IPV are at a high risk of sustaining IPV-related brain injuries (IPV-BIs), yet few studies have investigated the neurocognitive consequences of IPV-BI. This study examined differences between women with and without a history of repetitive IPV-BI on neuropsychological test performance, psychiatric symptom reporting, and physical IPV severity. We hypothesized that women with repetitive IPV-BI would exhibit poorer outcomes across all domains. Method For this cross-sectional study, 39 women who experienced physical IPV (n=17 with repetitive IPV-BI, n=22 without) underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Cognitive composite scores and intraindividual variability (IIV) were calculated for three domains: memory, executive functioning, and processing speed. IPV severity was assessed with the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale, and psychiatric symptoms were measured with the Brief Symptom Inventory-18. Independent samples t-tests were used to examine group differences. Results Women with a history of repetitive IPV-BI exhibited more cognitive variability on tests of memory, p=.052, d=-0.71, 95%CI[-1.43,0.01]. They also reported being in a greater number of violent relationships, p=.024, d=-0.80, 95%CI[-1.00,-0.08], more severe physical IPV experiences p=.007, d=-0.91, 95%CI[-7.42,-1.28], and elevated anxiety symptoms, p=.055, d=-0.63, 95%CI[-7.00,0.08]. There were no other significant group differences on cognitive composite scores, IIV, or psychiatric symptoms. Conclusion Results showed that women with repetitive IPV-BI reported more severe physical IPV and displayed elevated anxiety and some increased cognitive variability. While future study is needed, results indicate the urgent need for further psychoeducation on the consequences of IPV-BI.