Caffeine & Fear

Caffeine is the world's most used unregulated psychoactive substance. Most people intentionally use it for its stimulating properties, which include cognitive arousal and reduced fatigue. Too much caffeine can lead to one of four caffeine-induced psychiatric disorders which are described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fourth Edition, or DSM-IV. One of these is caffeine-induced anxiety disorder, which can include paranoia and feelings of irrational fear. Consult with your doctor about caffeine consumption and how it relates to your health.

Caffeine Consumption

According to a study published in a 2005 edition of the “Journal of the American Dietetic Association,” the average daily consumption of caffeine among Americans is 219 mg, whereas the worldwide average is 76 mg. Adults receive nearly three-quarters of their daily caffeine from coffee, whereas children receive one half of theirs from soft drinks. Overall, Americans drink an average of 56 gallons of soft drinks annually. Common sources of caffeine include coffee, black tea, green tea, soft drinks, energy drinks, chocolate, weight-loss products and some pharmaceutical products.

Effects of Caffeine

Caffeine is classified as a xanthine derivative, which are rapidly absorbed and affect the central nervous system. Specifically, caffeine stimulates some neurotransmitters in your brain while blocking the action of others. In so doing, caffeine affects brain chemistry, blood flow, heart rate, nerve function, adrenal stress hormones, stomach acid secretion, voluntary muscle tone and the production of urine, according to the book “Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism.” Serotonin, a brain chemical related to the feeling of happiness and contentment, is especially sensitive to caffeine levels. In fact, caffeine is often used to induce anxiety or panic attacks in experiments on patients with panic disorders. It has also been observed that people with schizophrenia typically consume large amounts of caffeine, according to a study published in a 2006 edition of the “Annals of Clinical Psychiatry.”

Caffeine-Induced Psychiatric Disorders

According to the DSM-IV, the four potential caffeine-induced psychiatric disorders include caffeine intoxication, caffeine-induced anxiety disorder, caffeine-induced sleep disorder and caffeine-related disorder not otherwise specified. Caffeine-induced anxiety disorder includes feelings of uncontrolled anxiety, agitation, irritability, depression and possibly paranoia and irrational fear. Furthermore, patients with bipolar disorder are at risk for an exacerbation of manic symptoms when they consume large amounts of caffeine.

Caffeine Dosages

Caffeine symptoms are obviously dose-dependent, and most people start to notice negative symptoms at between 200 and 300 mg of caffeine consumed per day, which is between two and three cups of brewed coffee. Sleep disruption is usually the first effect noticed, but other nervous system disorders can manifest with chronic consumption. Doses exceeding 1,000 mg daily can be toxic to susceptible individuals, whereas between 6,000 and 7,000 mg is considered deadly, according to “Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism.” Most 12-oz. soft drinks contain between 50 and 100 mg of caffeine.