Domestic violence victims, survivors, and thrivers often suffer countless nonconcussive head impacts and other types of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and head trauma during episodes of domestic violence that can last for decades and/or a  lifetime. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), TBI is an injury that affects how the brain works. It may be caused by an external bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or a penetrating injury (such as from a gunshot) to the head. There are three main types of TBI: 1) mild; 2) moderate; and 3) severe. 

Symptoms of a TBI, including severe headaches, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, noise and light sensitivity, weakness in the limbs, loss of coordination, speech and memory problems, confusion, agitation or combativeness, and others, can significantly impede individuals from completing daily tasks. 

While concussions, a type of mild TBI, presents symptoms, nonconcussive head impacts are asymptomatic. Tragically, this form of head trauma may have an accumulative effect and lead to neurological impairment later in life including chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE symptoms, including memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, impulse control problems, aggression, depression, anxiety, suicidality, parkinsonism, and, eventually, progressive dementia, can also impede individuals from functioning fully in life.

Because noncocussive head impacts are asymptomatic, it has been difficult to track prevalence rates. However, domestic violence rates are tracked in most countries which have consistently reported that 1 in 3 women are victims of domestic violence during their life time, with higher prevalence rates among disenfranchised females. The United States has limited data on TBI prevalence among domestic violence female victims and men with abusive tendencies. This data points to a silent and ignored epidemic of TBI in the domestic violence population and arguably pandemic. 

Pánfila Domestic Violence HOPE Foundation (“Pánfila”) was created to ensure that brain injuries and head trauma suffered by persons who experience domestic violence will no longer be overlooked.

Just as our society could not ignore evidence of an epidemic of lung cancer caused by tobacco, in our time, we must demand action in response to the potential pandemic of DV-TBI and head trauma.

Pánfila believes our society will respond to the call to begin addressing and providing help for individuals impacted by the silent and long ignored pandemic of DV-TBI and head trauma and potentially DV-CTE. Science will be the game-changing factor that ends the stigma of domestic violence and opens up long-needed conversations about saving lives while developing needed treatment and resources to individuals suffering from DV-TBI and DV-CTE.