Validation of the Believe-Brain Injury Questionnaire and Estimation of the Prevalence of Potential Brain Injuries Among Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence in France

Intimate partner violence (IPV) disproportionately affects women and is associated with severe physical, psychological, and social consequences. Among the least recognized outcomes are brain injuries resulting from head impacts and from hypoxic–ischemic mechanisms such as strangulation. Although international studies suggest that these injuries are frequent among IPV survivors, current prevalence estimates are highly imprecise due to methodological heterogeneity, small samples, and the absence of standardized, trauma-informed screening tools, particularly in France, where no epidemiological data exist. This study addresses this critical gap through a two-phase, non-interventional observational design. First, it aims to validate the Believe–Brain Injury Questionnaire (Believe-BIQ), a retrospective, trauma-informed screening instrument specifically developed to identify potential IPV-related brain injuries in women. Validation will be conducted against a gold-standard semi-structured clinical interview (BAT-L-IPV) in a face-to-face sample. Second, once validated, the Believe-BIQ will be deployed in a large, multicenter online survey to estimate the prevalence of potential brain injuries among women survivors of IPV across three French regions. Data will be collected through self-administered questionnaires and, in the validation phase, a semi-structured interview. In addition to brain injury screening, the protocol includes measures of IPV severity and type, early-life adversity, post-traumatic stress symptoms, anxiety and depression, and medical and legal help-seeking. These data will allow examination of injury mechanisms, repeated injuries, and the relationships between violence characteristics and specific alterations of consciousness. This project is the first to provide a representative, methodologically rigorous estimate of IPV-related brain injury prevalence in France using contemporary international criteria. By delivering a validated, field-ready screening tool and robust epidemiological data, the study is expected to improve early identification, inform clinical and social care pathways, and support evidence-based public health and policy responses for women survivors of intimate partner violence.