Neuropsychiatric Effects of Caffeine: Exacerbation of Anxiety and Sleep Disorders
Neuropsychiatric effects of caffeine
Abstract
Psychiatrists rarely enquire about caffeine intake when assessing patients. This may lead to a failure to identify caffeine-related problems and offer appropriate interventions. Excessive caffeine ingestion leads to symptoms that overlap with those of many psychiatric disorders. Caffeine is implicated in the exacerbation of anxiety and sleep disorders, and people with eating disorders often misuse it. It antagonises adenosine receptors, which may potentiate dopaminergic activity and exacerbate psychosis. In psychiatric in-patients, caffeine has been found to increase anxiety, hostility and psychotic symptoms. Assessment of caffeine intake should form part of routine psychiatric assessment and should be carried out before prescribing hypnotics. Gradual reduction in intake or gradual substitution with caffeine-free alternatives is probably preferable to abrupt cessation. Decaffeinated beverages should be provided on psychiatric wards.
‘. . . coffee sets the blood in motion and stimulates the muscles; it accelerates the digestive processes, chases away sleep, and gives us the capacity to engage a little longer in the exercise of our intellects.’Honoré de Balzac (paraphrasing Brillat-Savarin)Traité des Excitants Modernes(1838), (translated from the French by Robert Onopa)
Caffeine is the most widely used psychoactive drug in the world. It is found in more than 60 known species of plants, and dietary sources include coffee, tea, cocoa beverages, chocolate and soft drinks. Coffee was consumed in Arabia in the 13th century and was introduced into Europe in the early 17th century. Tea was probably drunk in China before the birth of Christ and was brought to Europe in the 16th century. Most dietary caffeine is still consumed as tea and coffee, and the latter accounts for 55% of per capita intake in the UK (Scott et al, 1989). Despite (or perhaps because of) its ubiquity, caffeine is rarely thought of as a problematic drug.
Abstract
Psychiatrists rarely enquire about caffeine intake when assessing patients. This may lead to a failure to identify caffeine-related problems and offer appropriate interventions. Excessive caffeine ingestion leads to symptoms that overlap with those of many psychiatric disorders. Caffeine is implicated in the exacerbation of anxiety and sleep disorders, and people with eating disorders often misuse it. It antagonises adenosine receptors, which may potentiate dopaminergic activity and exacerbate psychosis. In psychiatric in-patients, caffeine has been found to increase anxiety, hostility and psychotic symptoms. Assessment of caffeine intake should form part of routine psychiatric assessment and should be carried out before prescribing hypnotics. Gradual reduction in intake or gradual substitution with caffeine-free alternatives is probably preferable to abrupt cessation. Decaffeinated beverages should be provided on psychiatric wards.
‘. . . coffee sets the blood in motion and stimulates the muscles; it accelerates the digestive processes, chases away sleep, and gives us the capacity to engage a little longer in the exercise of our intellects.’Honoré de Balzac (paraphrasing Brillat-Savarin)Traité des Excitants Modernes(1838), (translated from the French by Robert Onopa)
Caffeine is the most widely used psychoactive drug in the world. It is found in more than 60 known species of plants, and dietary sources include coffee, tea, cocoa beverages, chocolate and soft drinks. Coffee was consumed in Arabia in the 13th century and was introduced into Europe in the early 17th century. Tea was probably drunk in China before the birth of Christ and was brought to Europe in the 16th century. Most dietary caffeine is still consumed as tea and coffee, and the latter accounts for 55% of per capita intake in the UK (Scott et al, 1989). Despite (or perhaps because of) its ubiquity, caffeine is rarely thought of as a problematic drug.