Caffeine Dependence Criteria

Using the same four criteria, another study identified adolescents who fulfilled diagnostic criteria for caffeine dependence. These studies, which represent a series of case reports, demonstrate that a clinically meaningful caffeine dependence syndrome does exist. When individuals in the general population are surveyed about their caffeine use, a surprisingly large proportion endorse substance dependence criteria. In a random digit-dial telephone survey in which all seven DSM-IV criteria for substance dependence were assessed, 30% of caffeine users fulfilled diagnostic criteria by endorsing three or more dependence criteria. When the more restrictive set of four criteria were used, as in the studies described above, 9% met criteria for substance
One investigation found that 16 of 99 individuals who self-identified as having psychological or physical dependence on caffeine met DSM-IV criteria for substance dependence on caffeine, when a restrictive set of four of the seven DSM-IV criteria that seemed most appropriate to problematic caffeine use were assessed (1. continued use despite knowledge of a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by the substance; 2. persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control substance use; 3. characteristic withdrawal syndrome or use of the substance to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms; 4. tolerance as defined by a need for markedly increased amounts of the substance to achieve desired effect, or markedly diminished effect with continued use of same amount of substance). Interestingly, among those who met criteria for caffeine dependence, caffeine intake ranged from 129 mg to 2548 mg and the preferred caffeine vehicle was equally divided between coffee and soft