This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Dennis S. Charney, MD; George R. Heninger, MD; Peter I. Jatlow, MD

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1985;42(3):233-243.

Abstract
• The effects of oral administration of caffeine (10 mg/kg) on behavioral ratings, somatic symptoms, blood pressure and plasma levels of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenethyleneglycol (MHPG) and cortisol were determined in 17 healthy subjects and 21 patients meeting DSM-III criteria for agoraphobia with panic attacks or panic disorder. Caffeine produced significantly greater increases in subject-rated anxiety, nervousness, fear, nausea, palpitations, restlessness, and tremors in the patients compared with healthy subjects. In the patients, but not the healthy subjects, these symptoms were significantly correlated with plasma caffeine levels. Seventyone percent of the patients reported that the behavioral effects of caffeine were similar to those experienced during panic attacks. Caffeine did not alter plasma MHPG levels in either the healthy subjects or patients. Caffeine increased plasma cortisol levels equally in the patient and healthy groups. Because caffeine is an adenosine receptor antagonist, these results suggest that some panic disorder patients may have abnormalities in neuronal systems involving adenosine. Patients with anxiety disorders may benefit by avoiding caffeine-con taining foods and beverages.

Author Affiliations
From the Clinical Research Unit (Drs Charney and Heninger), Ribicoff Research Facilities, Connecticut Mental Health Center, and the Departments of Psychiatry (Drs Charney and Heninger) and Laboratory Medicine (Dr Jatlow), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Oct 1, 1984.

Reprint requests to Clinical Research Unit, Ribicoff Research Facilities, Yale University School of Medicine, 34 Park St, New Haven, CT 06508 (Dr Charney).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Angiotensin-II Is a Putative Neurotransmitter in Lactate-Induced Panic-Like Responses in Rats with Disruption of GABAergic Inhibition in the Dorsomedial Hypothalamus
Shekhar et al.
J. Neurosci. 2006;26:9205-9215.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Neuropsychiatric effects of caffeine
Winston et al.
Adv. Psychiatr. Treat. 2005;11:432-439.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Modification of Breathing Behavior: Pavlovian and Operant Control in Emotion and Cognition
Ley
Behav Modif 1999;23:441-479.
ABSTRACT  

Actions of Caffeine in the Brain with Special Reference to Factors That Contribute to Its Widespread Use
Fredholm et al.
Pharmacol. Rev. 1999;51:83-133.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Human Brain Metabolic Response to Caffeine and the Effects of Tolerance
Dager et al.
Am. J. Psychiatry 1999;156:229-237.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Lau et al.
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 1997;281:1013-1029.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Coffee: Facts and Controversies
Etherton and Kochar
Arch Fam Med 1993;2:317-322.
ABSTRACT  

Anxiogenic Effects of Caffeine in Patients With Anxiety Disorders
Bruce et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1992;49:867-869.
ABSTRACT  

Endocrine, Cardiovascular, and Behavioral Effects of Intravenous Protirelin in Patients With Panic Disorder
Stein and Uhde
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1991;48:148-156.
ABSTRACT  

The Diagnostic Utility of Lactate Sensitivity in Panic Disorder
Cowley and Arana
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1990;47:277-284.
ABSTRACT  

Cholecystokinin Tetrapeptide Induces Panic-like Attacks in Healthy Volunteers: Preliminary Findings
de Montigny
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1989;46:511-517.
ABSTRACT  

Altered Central {alpha}2-Adrenoceptor Sensitivity in Panic Disorder
Nutt
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1989;46:165-169.
ABSTRACT  

Carbon Dioxide--Induced Anxiety: Behavioral, Physiologic, and Biochemical Effects of Carbon Dioxide in Patients With Panic Disorders and Healthy Subjects
Woods et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1988;45:43-52.
ABSTRACT  

Hemodynamic, Ventilatory, and Biochemical Responses of Panic Patients and Normal Controls With Sodium Lactate Infusion and Spontaneous Panic Attacks
Gaffney et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1988;45:53-60.
ABSTRACT  

Situational Panic Attacks: Behavioral, Physiologic, and Biochemical Characterization
Woods et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1987;44:365-375.
ABSTRACT  

Agoraphobia With Panic Attacks: Development, Diagnostic Stability, and Course of Illness
Breier et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1986;43:1029-1036.
ABSTRACT  

Carbon Dioxide Sensitivity in Panic Anxiety: Ventilatory and Anxiogenic Response to Carbon Dioxide in Healthy Subjects and Patients With Panic Anxiety Before and After Alprazolam Treatment
Woods et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1986;43:900-909.
ABSTRACT