Risk Of Revictimization Research Articles

Risk of Revictimization within Intimate Relationships among Women Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse: The Role of Cumulative Trauma and Self-Capacities Disturbances

Childhood sexual abuse, especially in the context of cumulative childhood interpersonal trauma (CCIT), is associated with an increased risk of revictimization by an intimate partner among women. The aim of the present study is to examine the role of self-capacities disturbances in the association between CCIT and revictimization by an intimate partner. The sample comprised of 247 adult women survivors consulting in sex therapy. Path analyses showed an indirect effect of self-capacities disturbances in the association between CCIT and revictimization (ORs = 1.49 and 1.62), demonstrating the importance of intervening in relational and affective difficulties among women survivors to prevent the risk of revictimization.

Childhood Maltreatment, Revictimization, and Partner Violence Victimization Through Midlife: A Prospective Longitudinal Investigation.

Existing research suggests that prior victimizations during a person's lifetime, particularly childhood traumas and maltreatment, are risk factors for abuse and revictimization in adulthood, although longitudinal evidence is sparse. Using data from a 30-year ongoing longitudinal study of the long-term consequences of childhood maltreatment, this paper describes the extent to which childhood maltreatment predicts subsequent victimization and partner violence victimization at two time points in adulthood. Data were obtained from a prospective cohort design study in which children with court-substantiated cases of maltreatment (ages 0-11 years) and demographically matched controls were followed into adulthood and interviewed over several waves. Childhood maltreatment was assessed through juvenile and adult court records from 1967 to 1971 in a midwestern county area in the United States. Victimization experiences were assessed from 2000 to 2002 (Mage = 39.5 years) and 2009 to 2010 (Mage = 47.5) and included two types based on information from the lifetime trauma and victimization history instrument and questions about past year partner violence victimization. Individuals with histories of childhood maltreatment were more likely to report physical and sexual assaults and kidnapping and stalking victimization than controls through age 39.5. In contrast, the two groups did not differ at the later assessment at age 47.5, except maltreated individuals reported greater risk for sexual assault/abuse than controls. For intimate partner violence victimization at age 39.5, maltreated and control groups differed only in terms of victimization involving injury. Later in adulthood, more individuals with histories of childhood maltreatment reported partner physical violence victimization compared to controls. Although these longitudinal findings showed a general decline in victimization experiences over the two time points, these results demonstrate that childhood maltreatment increases risk for subsequent revictimization in middle adulthood, specifically for sexual assault/abuse and intimate partner physical violence victimization. These findings have implications for prevention and intervention efforts targeting maltreated children.

Internet-Based Prevention of Re-Victimization for Youth with Care Experience (EMPOWER-YOUTH): Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Traumatic experiences and maltreatment are highly prevalent among adolescents in foster or institutional care and have severe long-term effects on mental health. Childhood maltreatment increases the risk of revictimization. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the internet-based prevention program EMPOWER YOUTH in reducing victimization experiences among youth with care experience. A total of 163 youth, that is, adolescents in foster or institutional care, adopted adolescents, or young care leavers aged 14 to 21 years (Mage = 17.68 years; SD = 2.11) were randomized to the six-module guided program or a wait-list control group. The primary endpoint was the decrease in victimization experiences at an 18-week follow-up. Secondary endpoints included risk perception, aggressive tendencies, empathy, prosocial behavior, depressiveness, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and loneliness. About half of the youth exhibited increased psychopathology. No significant interaction between time-point and group was found for victimization measures, though both groups saw a significant reduction over time (p = 0.012, ηp2 = 0.06; p = 0.017, ηp2 = 0.06). The intervention group showed a significant increase in perception of thrill-seeking and rebellious risks (p = 0.036, ηp2 = 0.04; p = 0.026, ηp2 = 0.05). While EMPOWER YOUTH effectively increased risk perception of thrill-seeking and rebellious behaviors, it should be considered an add-on to more intensive interventions for common mental health disorders in this vulnerable group, rather than a stand-alone online program.

Risk and protective factors for revictimization from intimate partner violence: A systematic review.

Intimate partner violence is a global public health problem that mainly affects women rather than men. It has been associated with negative physical and mental health outcomes, including experiences of revictimization. This systematic review describes the risk and protective factors associated with revictimization in female victims of intimate partner violence. We searched for articles published between 1995 and 2024 in the Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO databases. In total, 925 studies that met the inclusion criteria were reviewed, of which 38 were evaluated as eligible, and 12 were finally included in the review. Among the risk factors were mental health problems, some demographic characteristics of the victims, previous experiences of violence, and coping and attachment styles. Economic independence, empowerment, and restraining orders were protective factors. Based on the results, we present some practical implications for health and public policy as well as recommendations for directing future research into revictimization.

Sexual Violence Victimization and Pregaming Protective Behavioral Strategies Among College Students

Background Sexual violence is a major public health concern that has a detrimental impact on mental health, physical health, and academic performance. College students represent a population that is at an increased risk of experiencing sexual violence. Alcohol use, and more specifically, heavy drinking during pregaming events, is associated with increased risk of sexual violence. Studies have demonstrated that protective behavioral strategies have effectively reduced heavy drinking and the risk of alcohol-related consequences, including sexual violence victimization. Objectives This study aims to examine the association between experiences of sexual violence in college and subsequent use of pregaming protective strategies. Results Data from 468 college students (67% female, 33% male) were analyzed. Over 42% of participants reported experiencing sexual violence in college. While adjusting for pregaming frequency and sex, results revealed that those who reported experiencing sexual violence in college were significantly less likely to use pregaming protective behavioral strategies compared to those without such experiences. Specifically, survivors of sexual violence were less likely to report using the protective behavioral strategies of minimizing intoxication, as well as behaviors related to safety and familiarity (e.g., using a designated driver after pregaming). Conclusions The findings have important implications for interventions aimed at empowering survivors of sexual violence. Future research should focus on understanding survivor’s motives and mechanisms to use pregaming protective behavioral strategies to reduce the risk of re-victimization.

Dissociation As a Mechanism of Risk for Interpersonal Victimization Among Adolescent Girls.

Childhood interpersonal violence exposure (IVE) is associated with repeated victimization in adolescence and adulthood. Research suggests dissociation, a psychological phenomenon characterized by alterations and disruptions to consciousness, memory, and perceptions of the environment, and out-of-body experiences, increases the risk of revictimization. Self-report data from a longitudinal study of 92 violence-exposed adolescent girls from a large, urban area were analyzed to assess whether dissociation predicts polyvictimization or exposure to multiple types of interpersonal violence across adolescence. Participants' mental and interpersonal health was assessed at four in-person laboratory visits scheduled across 3.5 years (i.e., T1-T4). IVE included direct or indirect victimization experienced at home, school, the neighborhood, or town, such as child maltreatment, domestic violence, peer victimization, dating aggression, and community violence. Polyvictimization was operationalized as a composite score of the different types of IVE endorsed by the participant or caregiver. A random-intercept cross-lagged panel model was used to test the bidirectional relationships between dissociation and polyvictimization longitudinally. Cross-lagged regressions were analyzed to determine whether dissociation and polyvictimization predicted subsequent dissociation symptoms and polyvictimization. Concurrent and previous dissociation significantly accounted for polyvictimization at T2, T3, and T4. Polyvictimization did not significantly predict future dissociation symptoms. The results from this study provide support for dissociation's unique contribution to polyvictimization among violence-exposed girls, making it an important target for clinical assessment and treatment.

Beyond the Initial Assault: Characterizing Revictimization in Intimate Partner Violence and Its Implications for Women's Health.

Recent research has emphasized the importance of addressing specific victim-related factors to reduce victims' vulnerability and prevent future revictimization experiences. This study aimed to analyze the vulnerability profiles of women who were victims of intimate partner violence, including those who had experienced a single incident of violence and those who had endured revictimization. Participants were 338 women with active judicial protection measures registered in the system of support for victims of gender violence (VioGén) in Madrid, Spain. The analysis considered sociodemographic characteristics, victimization history, perceived triggers of violence, women's responses and feelings, as well as clinical outcomes linked to revictimization history. The study revealed that many victims faced socioeconomic vulnerability. Furthermore, the findings underscored the intricate link between the likelihood of enduring chronic violence and women's awareness of early indicators of violence risk, their initial responses to aggression, communication skills, and recurrent behaviors in the context of an established violent dynamic. This study offers valuable insights for law enforcement to identify the risk of revictimization. Furthermore, findings raise awareness about the particularly vulnerable situation of some women to repeated victimization experiences and provide relevant information for clinical intervention.

Investigating the role of alexithymia in the association between cumulative childhood maltreatment and teen dating violence victimization

BackgroundChildhood maltreatment is increasingly recognized as an important risk factor for teen dating violence (TDV) victimization. However, far too little research has studied the mechanisms that could explain this higher risk of revictimization. The present study investigated the role of alexithymia in the association between cumulative childhood maltreatment, TDV victimization occurrence and chronicity, and TDV-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. MethodsA total of 2780 adolescents, aged 13 to 19, completed measures of childhood maltreatment and alexithymia at Time 1 and TDV victimization and TDV-related PTSD symptoms at Time 2 (6 months later). Two mediational models were tested to examine the role of alexithymia as a risk factor for revictimization. One model assessed TDV occurrence as an outcome, while the other explored TDV chronicity and TDV-related PTSD symptoms as outcomes. ResultsFindings suggest that cumulative childhood maltreatment is associated with an increased probability of TDV occurrence through alexithymia. Cumulative childhood maltreatment and alexithymia are also associated with TDV chronicity and TDV-related PTSD symptoms. Notably, cumulative childhood maltreatment is associated with higher levels of alexithymia among adolescent victims of TDV, which, in turn, predicts higher TDV chronicity and TDV-related PTSD symptoms. LimitationsThis study relied on abbreviated measures and did not include all forms of child maltreatment (e.g., emotional and physical neglect). ConclusionsPromoting emotional awareness and identification among youth victims of child maltreatment could reduce the risk of TDV occurrence, TDV chronicity, and TDV-related PTSD symptoms.

Internet-based emotion regulation training aimed at reducing violent revictimization and depressive symptoms in victimized depressed patients: Results of a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundDepressed patients who have become victim of violence are prone to revictimization. However, no evidence-based interventions aimed at reducing revictimization in this group exist. MethodsThis multicenter randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of an internet-based emotion regulation training (iERT) added to TAU in reducing revictimization, emotion dysregulation, and depressive symptoms in recently victimized, depressed patients compared to TAU alone. Adult outpatients (N = 153) with a depressive disorder who had experienced threat, physical assault, or sexual assault within the previous three years were randomly allocated to TAU+iERT (n = 74) or TAU (n = 79). TAU involved psychotherapy (mainly cognitive behavioral therapy [77.8 %]). iERT comprised six guided online sessions focused on the acquisition of adaptive emotion regulation skills. The primary outcome measure was the number of revictimization incidents at 12 months after baseline, measured with the Safety Monitor. Analyses were performed according to the intention-to-treat principle. ResultsBoth groups showed a large decrease in victimization incidents. Mixed-model negative binomial regression analyses showed that TAU+iERT was not effective in reducing revictimization compared to TAU (IRR = 0.97; 95%CI = 0.64,1.46; p = .886). Linear mixed-model analyses demonstrated that TAU+iERT yielded a larger reduction of emotion dysregulation (B = −7.217; p = .046; Cohens d = 0.33), but not depressive symptoms (B = −1.041; p = .607) than TAU. LimitationsThe study was underpowered to detect small treatment effects. Additionally, uptake of iERT was quite low. ConclusionsAlthough TAU+iERT resulted in a larger decrease of emotion dysregulation than TAU alone, it was not effective in reducing revictimization and depressive symptoms. Patients' revictimization risk substantially decreased during psychotherapy.

The Impact of Psychological Trauma on the Statements of Victims of Gender Violence: A Challenge for Forensic Evaluation

This article examines the impact of psychological trauma on the statements of victims of gender-based violence and the challenges this poses for forensic assessment. Gender-based violence, a global public health problem, often results in psychological trauma that can significantly affect memory and the ability of victims to provide coherent testimony. The article explores how trauma alters cognitive processes, including encoding, storage, and retrieval of memories, and how this manifests in symptoms such as memory fragmentation, dissociation, and hypervigilance. Practical challenges in forensic assessment are discussed, including the misinterpretation of trauma symptoms as indicators of lack of credibility. The article proposes improvements in forensic practice, emphasizing the need for specialized training in psychotrauma for practitioners, the use of trauma-focused assessment methods, and the implementation of more sensitive legal and forensic interventions. Ethical implications are addressed, highlighting the risk of revictimization and the importance of a victim-centered approach. The article concludes by highlighting the need for more empirical research on the impact of trauma on forensic statements, and the importance of developing best practices in the forensic assessment of victims of gender-based violence. Overall, the article argues for a more trauma-informed and trauma-sensitive approach to forensic assessment that recognizes the complexities of psychological trauma and its impact on the memory and narrative of victims of gender-based violence

Criminal procedural measures to protect victims of domestic violence

Protecting the victims of crimes is an objective of the judicial bodies to avoid the risk of revictimization, thus exercising their obligation to defend the fundamental rights of the person (the right to life, the right to health and physical and mental integrity, the protection of dignity, private life, the right to free expression etc.), as protected by a series of national and international normative acts.
 The criminal procedural measures for the protection of victims of the crime of domestic violence can belong to various criminal legal or criminal procedural institutions: general protective measures, regulated in art. 113 of Criminal Procedure Code related to art. 125-130 of Criminal Procedure Code, preventive measures, accessory and complementary punishments and administrative protective measures ordered on the basis of Law 682/2002 on the protection of witnesses.
 The development of Romanian legislation to complete the spectrum of available instruments, protective measures imposed by international legislation or inspired by the legislation of other states or from the recommendations presented by international experts, is necessary and would follow the trend on a European scale to harmonize the practices of physical and psychological protection of victims.
 Thus, the capacity of the judicial bodies to obtain the willingness of the victims to cooperate with the judicial bodies will be enhanced, the risks of exposure to any danger by participating in the trial being minimized, and they will be encouraged to adopt a sincere, unhindered attitude during the hearings.

Managing post-separation violence: mothers’ strategies and the challenges of receiving societal protection

ABSTRACT Given the profound consequences of post-separation violence on the well-being and quality of life of many women and children, protecting victims from further violence is a paramount concern. Understanding the complex challenges faced by women at risk for such violence is crucial for improving strategies for managing this risk and ensuring the safety of these women and children. In Sweden, access to society’s protective interventions often relies on the women actively seeking them. The aim of this study was to analyse the process of protection against post-separation violence as described by women with children in Sweden. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with women who had experienced domestic violence and were assessed with low to moderate risk of revictimization. The interviews explored strategies they employed on their own and the risk management interventions they received. Through thematic analysis, we identified five themes: activating own safety strategies, seeking societal protection, utilizing societal protection, bridging gaps in societal protection, and resigning to live unprotected. Together, they form a process of protection characterized by mothers employing numerous strategies at different phases to safeguard themselves and their children, relying on their own initiative as well as the assistance offered by society. However, despite these efforts, some mothers and children remained unprotected and were obligated to resign to live with post-separation violence. This study underscores the extensive demands placed on women subjected to violence, despite the presence of relatively strong legal rights and a well-developed societal system.

Pathways Linking Cumulative Maltreatment and Revictimization: Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms, Anger, and Substance Use Among Women

ABSTRACT Maltreatment survivors are at a heightened risk for revictimization during adulthood. Yet, existing work has specifically focused on sexual revictimization, and it is unclear what factors increase one’s risk for revictimization more broadly. Posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), anger, and substance use have been identified as factors associated with sexual revictimization; the function of these variables is ambiguous in the broader revictimization framework. There is also a lack of understanding regarding the roles of the DSM-5 posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom clusters and revictimization. This study aimed to 1) examine the links between maltreatment and revictimization and three factors (i.e., PTSS, anger, and substance use), 2) determine whether there are indirect effects between maltreatment and revictimization through each factor, and 3) investigate whether PTSD clusters have indirect effects on the relationship between maltreatment and revictimization. The sample included 350 maltreated college women (M age = 21.96, SD = 5.31; 54.2% White) from two universities. Findings indicated that maltreatment and revictimization were linked with PTSS (B = 4.65, B = 0.03, respectively). Only maltreatment was related to anger, B = 1.70, and revictimization was tied to substance use, B = 0.08. Only PTSS had an indirect effect on the link between maltreatment and revictimization (B = 0.13). Maltreatment was related to each of the four PTSD symptom clusters, but the clusters had no indirect effects on the association between maltreatment and revictimization. These findings indicate that PTSS may be uniquely important in increasing the risk for revictimization among women.

“Survive, learn to live with it … or not”: A narrative analysis of women's repeat victimization using a lifecourse perspective

Violence against women is a global public health concern, with high levels of prevalence and debilitating consequences for victims, including a higher risk of revictimization. Quantitative evidence shows a strong association between previous experiences of sexual victimization, particularly in childhood, and future victimization. However, there is limited rigorous qualitative scholarship that advances understanding about revictimization experienced from childhood into adulthood. In this study, we address this gap offering a novel contribution to qualitative insights on revictimization using a life-course perspective. We conducted a rigorous qualitative secondary analysis, adopting a feminist narrative approach, to explore how individuals make sense of their experiences of abuse. Findings showed five main themes about survivors' experiences of repeat victimization across the life-course including: abuse experiences in childhood and adolescence; mental health and ‘risky’ coping mechanisms; naming abuse in early adulthood; seeking support in adulthood; surviving and a life beyond abuse. Most participants experienced multiple incidents of sexual abuse in childhood, which led to helplessness, shame, blame, and normalization of their experiences, creating a vulnerability to repeat victimization. Childhood abuse had later mental health impacts. Many participants used risky coping mechanisms, such as substance use. Survivors tended to be seen through the lens of their mental health diagnosis and addiction rather than through the lens of how abuse caused complex trauma. To address the impacts of revictimization and complex trauma affecting women across the globe, healthcare policy and services need a narrative and trauma-informed approach, over the short-, medium- or longer-term, enabling survivors to make sense of the connected nature of their experiences and accumulated vulnerability resulting from the abuse by others, rather than factors associated with the individual (their mental ill health, for example, or substance use). This is important as women's individual understanding is critical to processing trauma and abuse, and to longer-term recovery.

A social network analysis of perpetrators of child maltreatment reported by youth in foster care

ObjectivePrior research on child maltreatment has focused on distinct features of maltreatment (type, severity, chronicity) important for youth outcomes, yet perpetrators of child maltreatment reported by youth have gone largely unstudied. The present study examines connections between perpetrators, the total number and type of perpetrators reported, and the frequency at which each type of perpetrator was reported across 24 relationship types to provide a foundation for future research seeking to provide comprehensive measurement of perpetrator profiles. MethodsData from 503 youth in foster care (8–21 years old) were collected through the Studying Pathways to Adjustment and Resilience in Kids (SPARK) Project. Youth reported on their history of physical, sexual, and psychological maltreatment. Social Network Analysis (SNA) was used to visualize links between perpetrators within maltreatment type and paired samples t-tests were used to compare differences between network edge weights. ResultsFull sample SNA results were highly interconnected and variable across maltreatment types. Biological parents and peers were the most common perpetrators of physical and psychological abuse with peers and non-family adults being most common for sexual abuse. Family and community member groupings were most distinct in the physical and psychological abuse networks whereas in the sexual abuse network, ties between perpetrators were more equidistant. ConclusionsDifferences exist in perpetrator profiles across maltreatment types, adding a layer of complexity to how maltreatment experiences are captured, and variability in profiles might provide insight to differing youth outcomes. Understanding individual youth perpetrator profiles could be used to inform foster care placements and reduce the risk of revictimization.

The Risk of Revictimization for the Young Victims of Crimes

Abstract Serious crimes are committed today in various forms using diversified modi operandi. Perpetrators look for more efficient ways of enhancing the proceeds of their crimes. Trafficking in human beings, including children, to exploit them sexually or through forced labor is common. In this context, victims need special protection from law enforcement agencies, because, in some cases, they suffer revictimization. Legislators must therefore take into account their vulnerable status during criminal proceedings to prevent any form of revictimization. This article presents the situation in both legal and judicial systems regarding victims of serious crimes associated with revictimization. This research also aims at finding appropriate legal measures and instruments for fighting serious crimes, including trafficking vulnerable children and women, and enhancing state policy for reducing revictimization. To achieve these aims, the article is based on a qualitative research methodology, paying particular attention to the serious risk factors that generate revictimization in practice.

A Digital Intervention to Improve Mental Health and Interpersonal Resilience in Young People Who Have Experienced Technology-Assisted Sexual Abuse: Protocol for a Nonrandomized Feasibility Clinical Trial and Nested Qualitative Study

No evidence-based support has been offered to young people (YP) who have experienced technology-assisted sexual abuse (TASA). Interventions aimed at improving mentalization (the ability to understand the mental states of oneself and others) are increasingly being applied to treat YP with various clinical issues. Digital technology use among YP is now common. A digital intervention aimed at improving mentalization in YP who have experienced TASA may reduce the risk of revictimization and future harm and make YP more resilient and able to manage distress that might result from TASA experiences. In this paper, we describe a protocol for determining the feasibility of the i-Minds trial and the acceptability, safety, and usability of the digital intervention (the i-Minds app) and explore how to best integrate i-Minds into existing routine care pathways. This is a mixed methods nonrandomized study aimed to determine the feasibility, acceptability, safety, and usability of the intervention. Participants aged between 12 and 18 years who report distress associated with TASA exposure will be recruited from the United Kingdom from the National Health Service (NHS) Trust Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, sexual assault referral centers, and a web-based e-therapy provider. All participants will receive the i-Minds app for 6 weeks. Coproduced with YP and a range of stakeholders, the i-Minds app focuses on 4 main topics: mentalization, TASA and its impact, emotional and mental health, and trauma. A daily prompt will encourage YP to use the app, which is designed to be used in a stand-alone manner alongside routine care. We will follow participants up after the intervention and conduct interviews with stakeholders to explore the acceptability of the app and trial procedures and identify areas for improvement. Informed by the normalization process theory, we will examine barriers and enablers relevant to the future integration of the intervention into existing care pathways, including traditional clinic-based NHS and NHS e-therapy providers. This study was approved by the Research Ethics Board of Scotland. We expect data to be collected from up to 60 YP. We expect to conduct approximately 20 qualitative interviews with participants and 20 health care professionals who referred YP to the study. The results of this study have been submitted for publication. This study will provide preliminary evidence on the feasibility of recruiting YP to a trial of this nature and on the acceptability, safety, and usability of the i-Minds app, including how to best integrate it into existing routine care. The findings will inform the decision to proceed with a powered efficacy trial. International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number Registry (ISRCTN) ISRCTN43130832; https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN43130832. DERR1-10.2196/40539.

Is the Risk for Sexual Revictimization Cumulative? AProspective Examination.

Sexual abuse during childhood is associated with risk for sexual assault as an adult, known as revictimization. Although multiple experiences of sexual assault in adulthood are also common, it is unclear how risk trajectories might continue to evolve in emerging adulthood, defined as ages 18-25. Clarifying risk trajectories is important to inform the development of targeted risk reduction interventions. To fill this gap, we examined cumulative risk for sexual assault in emerging adult women following multiple experiences of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and adulthood sexual assault (ASA). Women (n=447; aged 18-25years at enrollment) completed behaviorally specific assessments of unwanted sexual experiences at up to 9 time points across 3years. Logistic regression was used to predict any sexual assault during the 3-year period as a function of victimization history at baseline. A multilevel logistic regression analysis among ASA survivors was then used to determine whether each successive ASA increased risk for further victimization. Extending prior research, findings revealed that the risk for sexual assault during the 3-year study was greater for women reporting more prior experiences of CSA and ASA. Unexpectedly, each ASA increased the risk for a subsequent ASA to a lesser extent among women with more experiences of CSA. Findings suggest that the risk for sexual revictimization can be cumulative, but that risk does not increase indefinitely. Future research should investigate the points at which survivors of multiple assaults may begin to experience a decreased risk for later assaults, as well as the factors associated with change in risk status (e.g., removal from violent environments or relationships, changes in institutional policies). Such research could inform intervention targets.

Four reasons why we should screen for dissociation in competitive sports

Four reasons why we should screen for dissociation in competitive sports

Intimate partner violence, substance use, and health comorbidities among women: A narrative review.

Exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV), including physical, sexual, and psychological violence, aggression, and/or stalking, impacts overall health and can have lasting mental and physical health consequences. Substance misuse is common among individuals exposed to IPV, and IPV-exposed women (IPV-EW) are at-risk for transitioning from substance misuse to substance use disorder (SUD) and demonstrate greater SUD symptom severity; this too can have lasting mental and physical health consequences. Moreover, brain injury is highly prevalent in IPV-EW and is also associated with risk of substance misuse and SUD. Substance misuse, mental health diagnoses, and brain injury, which are highly comorbid, can increase risk of revictimization. Determining the interaction between these factors on the health outcomes and quality of life of IPV-EW remains a critical need. This narrative review uses a multidisciplinary perspective to foster further discussion and research in this area by examining how substance use patterns can cloud identification of and treatment for brain injury and IPV. We draw on past research and the knowledge of our multidisciplinary team of researchers to provide recommendations to facilitate access to resources and treatment strategies and highlight intervention strategies capable of addressing the varied and complex needs of IPV-EW.