Estimate the prevalence of daily caffeine consumption, Caffeine Use Disorder, Caffeine Withdrawal and harm in Iran: A cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Abstract Introduction : One of the informal diagnoses in DSM-5 is Caffeine Use Disorder (CUD). Recent studies found that CUD and high levels of caffeine consumption could impact a large amount of the population. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of CUD, caffeine consumption, caffeine-related harms, and related psychiatric symptoms in Iran. Methods A cross-sectional survey with a convenience sample of 1228 adults was conducted in Iran. Caffeine consumption was assessed across 20 products. Caffeine Use Disorder Questionnaire (CUDQ), Caffeine Withdrawal Symptoms Questionnaire (CWSQ), 14-item Caffeine-related Harm Screening (CHS), and Symptom Checklist-25 (SCL-25) were used in the present study. Results The daily average caffeine consumption was 146.67mg. The prevalence of CUD and caffeine withdrawal (CW) were estimated at 19.5% and 46.62%, respectively. Also, 12.9% of responders received CUD and CWs simultaneously. The prevalence of CUD was higher in men than females (25.08% vs. 13.93%). 95% of participants (n = 1166) reported using at least one caffeine product yesterday. Moreover, the most reported caffeine-related harms were the desire for sugar (42.9%), insomnia (39.3%), and caffeine dependence (38.3%). Age significantly correlates with CUD (-.07) and daily caffeine intake (0.08). Moreover, all SCL-90 subscales had a significant correlation with daily caffeine intake. Finally, responders at younger ages reported higher levels of CUD and caffeine consumption than older adults(P < 0.05). Conclusion High rates of CW and CUD in the Iranian population suggest that it is necessary to develop evidence-based treatments.