Caffeine Linked to Psychosis in Case Series

[The Straight Story]

Caffeine Linked to Psychosis in Case Series

BOSTON – Most people just get a mild buzz from their morning coffee, but an unfortunate few have reactions to caffeine ranging from severe agitation to paranoid delusions and psychosis, forensic psychiatrists reported in a poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Psychiatry in the Law.

Photo credit Lynda Banzi/Elsevier Global Medical News
The study authors recommended that institutions either monitor and limit caffeine use, or eliminate it in some correctional settings.

...

Caffeine is metabolized by the cytochrome P450 1A2 enzyme. Polymorphisms in the enzyme might affect how individuals metabolize and respond to caffeine, the authors said.

...

In the forensics case, a 24-year old man with no history of mental illness assaulted an emergency room nurse after he had driven all night and ingested the caffeine equivalent of about three cups of coffee, said coauthor Dr. James B. Reynolds of the Northwest Missouri Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center, St. Joseph, in an interview.

http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/single-view/caffeine-linked-to-psychosis-in-case-series/907d04add3.html

[lbrtbell]

1. Caffeine is a stimulant

No stimulant is good for you, except in medically-indicated situations.

People should be drinking water, fruit juice, or juices made from vegetables. Coffee, tea, and sugary soft drinks are terrible for one's health.

Herbal teas are, for the most part, beneficial--but even then, you have to make sure you're not ingesting any stimulant herbs.

[The Straight Story]

2. I balance it out by drinking alcohol. Alcohol + Stimulant = Water

:)

[yankeepants]

3. hee hee heee!

[Donnachaidh]

27. nope -- alcohol + coffee = wide awake drunk

:rofl:

[Webster Green]

8. I keep reading new studies indicating the health benefits of drinking coffee.

I don't believe coffee is "terrible" for one's health. I did cut back on the caffein when I started taking blood pressure meds.
These days I mix de-caf dark roast beans and regular columbian medium roast beans.

There are quality of life issues involved here. I love my morning coffee. :9

[GoCubsGo]

16. I have read the same. Ditto for tea.

NOTHING is good in excess, including all the substances the poster was touting, like fruit juice and herb teas. But, as you point out, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a cup or two of coffee in the morning.

[DLnyc]

25. Some health effects may be from antioxidants, not caffeine

Articles I've seen often mention that the beneficial effects remain even if people are drinking de-caf instead of regular coffee.

So a lot of the health benefits may be from the anti-oxidants in coffee, not necessarily from the caffeine.

[GoCubsGo]

14. Coffee and tea are NOT terrible for one's health.

There is ample evidence out there that coffee reduces the risk of Type 2 diabetes, colon cancer, gall stones, liver disease and Parkinson's disease. The antioxidants in tea reduce the risks of many cancers, heart attack and stroke. Their phytochemicals help keep bones strong, and they raise one's metabolism to aid weight loss. And, they don't contain all the sugars that can make you fat, like fruit juices do.

[fasttense]

4. I read a study the other day that said caffeine actually elevates your mood.

It's one of the reasons Mountain Dew is so popular here on the skirts of Appalachia.

So now I'm confused.

[DCKit]

5. Timely, given that I just watched "Reefer Madness" again last night.

The S.O. had never seen it.

It just get funnier with time - one puff of the eeeeeeviiiilll weed, and the actors became maniacs.

Now I'm jonesing for a cup of the eeeeeeeviiilllll coffee.

[Brickbat]

6. No, no -- the severe agitation and psychosis comes when I DON'T drink it.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

9. beat me to it...

headed for another cup now or my 0900 meeting may not go well...

sP

[whistler162]

29. +100000

[H2O Man]

7. Back in the 1980s,

when I was a working/supervisor of an agency involved in dealing with child abuse, I noted that massive coffee consumption was more closely associated with physical abuse, than the use/abuse of any other substance.

[Zorra]

10. We see it all the time here at DU.

:D

[The Straight Story]

11. YOU SHUT UP, YOU SHUT THE HELL UP RIGHT NOW !!1!!!!1

:rofl:

[Zorra]

13. OK. Breathe - that's good, that's good. Relax. Put the cup down!!!

Put. the cup. down. Thaaaat's it. Now, slowly...slowly, back away from the coffee machine...

[phleshdef]

21. ^ Thats usually how I respond to people around here BEFORE I've had my coffee.

I have to remind myself to have a little before responding to anything controversial!

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[The Straight Story]

15. Amen to that. Same with pot, cigs (even in bars), etc (nt)

[Romulox]

22. You ever try all three at the same time? Nice. Nice. nt

[Schema Thing]

17. so this way people who do have issues, but not be aware that coffee could be the cause

can now know to examine their caffeine intake as it relates to their mental state.

[GoCubsGo]

18. A big, giant "DUH!!"

You don't sleep. You overdose on a stimulant. You act crazy. How much of that case was from the lack of sleep??? Most people are cranky when they are overtired, caffeine or not.

[bemildred]

19. Gee, driving all night and OD-ing on caffeine can make you act funny? nt

[Avalux]

20. And a couple cups of coffee a day cuts a women's chances of developing endometrial cancer.

The pros and cons of caffeine consumption are all over the place. Now we can look forward to caffiene consumption prior to a violent crime as a defense strategy in court.

[BlueIris]

24. And anyone's chances of developing Parkinson's.

Still, I'm trying to get off caffeine for personal reasons.

[Romulox]

23. "I'm on NO SLEEP!" nt

[Blue_In_AK]

26. I have severe agitation and paranoid delusions

if I DON'T have my coffee.

[_eh]

28. LIES!!! ALL LIES!!!!!

CAFFEINE IS THE BEST DAMN THING ON THIS EARTH!!! ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGH!!!!!