The impacts of caffeine administration, expectancies, and related stimuli on coffee craving, withdrawal, and self-administration.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Caffeine is the most commonly consumed psychoactive substance, yet its potential reinforcing properties have been understudied.

Aims

This study examined the impact of caffeine administration and expectancy on coffee-related craving, withdrawal, and cue reactivity via a balanced-placebo design.

Methods

Following 18-h caffeine abstinence, 65 daily coffee consumers (54% male) received either caffeine-containing (100 mg) or placebo gum, along with either accurate or inaccurate information regarding the gum's caffeine content. Participants were exposed to neutral and coffee-related stimuli using different sensory modalities (visual and combined auditory/olfactory). Craving, withdrawal, and heart rate were assessed at baseline and after each cue presentation. Following the cue-reactivity assessments, participants were provided with an opportunity to self-administer units of coffee.

Results

Caffeine expectancy was associated with reduced subjective withdrawal 30 min following the gum administration but was not significantly impacted by actual caffeine administration. The presentation of coffee-related cues was found to increase self-reported craving and heart rate, regardless of the expectation that caffeine had been administered. Visual, but not auditory/olfactory, cue reactivity appeared blunted when participants received a prior dose of caffeine. Prior caffeine ingestion also reduced the probability of subsequent coffee self-administration.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this is the first examination of the impact of caffeine administration and expectancy on cue-elicited coffee craving and coffee consumption. Although there was some evidence that caffeine expectancy and administration were found to impact subjective withdrawal and self-administration respectively, neither was found to exert strong consistent effects on cue reactivity.

SUBMITTER: Shephard A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8905124 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature