Existing and Potential Therapies for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Persistent Post-Concussion Symptoms in...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Public Health

Background:

• Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects millions globally, predominantly women, leading to significant physical and mental health issues.
• IPV survivors frequently experience traumatic brain injuries, resulting in persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• There is a critical gap in research regarding accessible and effective therapies tailored for IPV survivors with PTSD and PPCS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify existing therapeutic studies for PTSD and PPCS in women who are survivors of IPV.
• To provide a narrative overview of potential therapeutic categories, including psychotherapy, mindfulness, exercise, and pharmacotherapy.
• To highlight the need for IPV-specific evidence and validation for PTSD and PPCS treatments.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar.
• Inclusion criteria focused on full-text, peer-reviewed articles in English, involving women with a history of IPV and reporting PTSD or PPCS treatment outcomes.
• Findings from related populations (veterans, athletes, TBI samples) were reviewed when IPV-specific data was absent.

Main Results:

• Nineteen studies addressed PTSD in IPV survivors, primarily using psychotherapy or mindfulness-based interventions.
• No intervention studies specifically targeting PPCS in IPV survivors were identified; results were extrapolated from other populations.
• Limited IPV-specific evidence exists across all therapeutic categories, underscoring the need for further validation.

Conclusions:

• While promising therapeutic options exist for IPV-related PTSD, interventions for PPCS in this population are lacking and largely inferential.
• There is a significant need for validated, trauma-informed approaches that address the intersection of PTSD and PPCS in IPV survivors.
• Further research is crucial to develop and validate effective treatments for this understudied group.