physical abuse

abuse (ah-būs´) misuse, maltreatment, or excessive use.

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child abuse  see battered-child syndrome.

drug abuse  substance a.

physical abuse  any act resulting in a nonaccidental physical injury.

psychoactive substance abuse  substance a.

sexual abuse  assault or other crime of a sexual nature, which need not be physical. Acts of a sexual nature are considered abuse if performed with minors or nonconsenting adults.

substance abuse  use of a substance that modifies mood or behavior in a manner characterized by a maladaptive pattern of use. See also substance dependence, under dependence.

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physical abuse

[fiz′ikəl]

Etymology: Gk, physikos, natural; L, abuti, to abuse

one or more episodes of aggressive behavior, usually resulting in physical injury with possible damage to internal organs, sense organs, the central nervous system, or the musculoskeletal system of another person.

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abuse [ah-būs´]

misuse, maltreatment, or excessive use.

child abuse see child abuse.

domestic abuse abuse of a person by another person with whom the victim is living, has lived, or with whom a significant relationship exists. The abuse may take the form of verbal abuse, sexual abuse, physical battering, or psychological (emotional) unavailability. Abuse is a learned behavior and has an escalating cycle; abusive behavior cuts across all racial, ethnic, educational, and socioeconomic boundaries.

drug abuse see drug abuse.

elder abuse maltreatment of an older adult, ranging from passive neglect of needs to overt mental, physical, or sexual assault.

physical abuse any act resulting in a nonaccidental physical injury, including not only intentional assault but also the results of unreasonable punishment.

psychoactive substance abuse substance abuse.

sexual abuse any act of a sexual nature performed in a criminal manner, as with a child or with a nonconsenting adult, including rape, incest, oral copulation, and penetration of genital or anal opening with a foreign object. The term also includes lewd or lascivious acts with a child; any sexual act that could be expected to trouble or offend another person when done by someone motivated by sexual interest; acts related to sexual exploitation, such as those related to pornography, prostitution involving minors, or coercion of minors to perform obscene acts.

substance abuse a substance use disorder characterized by the use of a mood or behavior-altering substance in a maladaptive pattern resulting in significant impairment or distress, such as failure to fulfill social or occupational obligations or recurrent use in situations in which it is physically dangerous to do so or which end in legal problems, but without fulfilling the criteria for substance dependence. Specific disorders are named for their etiology, such as alcohol abuse and anabolic steroid abuse. DSM-IV includes specific abuse disorders for alcohol, amphetamines or similar substances, cannabis, cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants, opioids, PCP or similar substances, and sedatives, hypnotics, or anxiolytics. See also drug abuse.

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physical abuse

Pediatrics “…Inflicting bodily injury through excessive force or forcing a child to engage in physically harmful activity, such as excessive exercise, PA ↑ with poverty. See Child abuse, Spousal abuse.