What question did this study set out to answer?

To explore the occurrence of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) in victims of domestic violence.

February 22, 2026

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and Intimate Partner Violence

Key Points

To explore the occurrence of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) in victims of domestic violence.
Case series analysis of patients with documented history of head trauma
Neuropathological confirmation of CTE in subjects
Focus on individuals exposed to intimate partner violence.
Identification of CTE in multiple cases associated with domestic violence
All cases had histories of repeated head trauma
Findings suggest broader implications for recognizing CTE outside of contact sports.

Abstract

There is increased recognition of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) outside the main studied setting of recurrent head injuries in male contact-sport participants. Anyone who experiences repetitive head injury is at risk of CTE, with isolated reports in the literature of cases of CTE described in victims of domestic violence, military personnel exposed to explosive devices, and those with treatment-resistant epilepsy. We present an Australian case series of neuropathologically confirmed CTE occurring in the context of domestic violence with well-documented histories of repeated head trauma.

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Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and Intimate Partner Violence

Key Points

Abstract

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