Drinking Coffee Habit Psychology Crazy

Drinking Coffee Habit Psychology

CRAZY for COFFEE

"Crazy for Coffee" by Carla Florin

Florin, Carla. (2004). "Crazy for Coffee." Psyched for Success. 5 November 2004 Retrieved on 11 May 2008 at http://psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20.html

Carla Florin has raised some interesting points on the effect of caffeine addiction and withdrawal on human beings. While mostly viewed as a benign addiction by the psychiatric community in general, Florin believes it may merit much more concern. She is especially concerned with the withdrawal effect that skipping that cup of coffee in the morning has on a person's mental and physical well being. In fact she states that, "researchers declared that withdrawal from caffeine (the world's most popular stimulant) constitutes an official disorder." (2004) the author cites research presented by Roland Griffiths lead research professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at Johns Hopkins. This review will discuss the two relevant issues of addiction and withdrawal as regards mental and physical effects, as well as the possibility of inclusion in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). There is also a high correlation of anxiety disorders associated with Caffeine consumption that will be reviewed.

Body:

This article was chosen for the emphasis it places on the caffeine and its consequent addictive, withdrawal and anxiety producing effects on the human body and psyche. Addiction is a complex issue that has both physical and psychological consequences. Caffeine also has the quality of inducing panic and anxiety disorders in its users as well, creating a possible dependence on a substance that has negative side effects. But it is a pleasant and enticing addiction. "Caffeine is a mild stimulant,' says Griffiths, 'and particularly for people who don't use it regularly, it's a wonderful drug for combating fatigue and restoring mental performance. It also enhances exercise endurance." (Florin, 2004) Other studies concur:

First, the possible reinforcing effects of coffee may not be the caffeine per se, but rather the pleasurable aroma and taste of coffee as well as the social environment that usually accompanies coffee consumption. Second, the desire to use repeatedly is most marked in heavy caffeine consumers (> 1000 mg/day) who also had histories of alcohol or drug abuse. For moderate caffeine users (130-600 mg/day), caffeine reinforcement occurs in a smaller subset of consumers (6). (Satel, 2006)

However, these statements can certainly have some merit when Florin attempts to place it the category of an addictive/abusive substance. She further goes on to state that the withdrawal symptoms may qualify as a DSM disorder in and of themselves and merit further medical and psychiatric concern. She does admit that coffee users who have no risk factors, such as cardiovascular problems, diabetes, etc. may be able to manage a comfortable addiction to the substance.

Conclusion:

While the research is interesting and yelds some provocative information, there are several problems with this article, not the least is the trivializing of addiction and substance abuse by associating it with a morning cup of coffee. Nehlig agrees, "Thus, dependence and abuse should not be associated, and, as pointed out recently, discussing caffeine in terms of drugs of abuse might in fact trivialize the dangers of drugs such as cocaine." (2004, p. 140) While certainly important in the overall scheme of a good health regime, caffeine and its association with drug addiction and withdrawal are highly overemphasized in most respects.

However, it must be noted that: