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Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder
Published on: March 8, 2018
Executive dysfunction and domestic violence
1School of Psychology, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia. nigel.marsh@une.edu.au
Primary Objective:
To replicate previous studies which have reported a high prevalence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in partner-abusive men and to extend research in this area by determining the prevalence of executive dysfunctions, which have been linked with both TBI and violent behaviour.
Research Design:
Thirty-eight men with criminal convictions for violence and who were receiving treatment for abusing their partners were assessed.
Methods And Procedures:
Subjects with a self-reported history of TBI (n = 22) were compared to the non-TBI group (n = 16) on various psychological measures.
Main Outcomes And Results:
The two groups were not significantly different on the variables of age, pre-morbid IQ, self-esteem and alcohol use. The TBI group scored more poorly than the non-TBI group on a measure of current IQ and two of the three measures of executive functioning.
Conclusion:
The presence of executive dysfunction has implications for the design of successful intervention programmes with this sub-group of batterers.
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