Am J Psychiatry 1978; 135:963-966
Copyright © 1978 by American Psychiatric Association
Anxiety and depression associated with caffeinism among psychiatric inpatients
JF Greden, P Fontaine, M Lubetsky and K Chamberlin
Among 83 hospitalized adult psychiatric patients, 22% reported being high
caffeine consumers (750 mg or more per day); these patients scored
significantly greater on the State-Trait Anxiety Index and the Beck
Depression Scale than moderate and low consumers. High consumers described
significantly more clinical symptoms, felt that their physical health was
not as good, and reported greater use of sedative- hypnotics and minor
tranquilizers. Since caffeine modifies catecholamine levels, inhibits
phosphodiesterase breakdown of cyclic AMP, and sensitizes receptor sites,
association of caffeinism with both anxiety and depressive symptoms is
possible.
