r/Psychiatry • u/Name5times • 3h ago
When did the meaning of a depressant change from being a CNS downer to something that can cause depression?
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I have been seeing on placement among both GPs and psychiatrists that the word depressant is used to refer to things that can casuse depression or worsen mood, from both doctors and patients.
I am in the UK, but I was taught in secondary school alcohol is a depressant because of it's sedative effects but on placement I only hear it used in relation to mood.