CAFFEINE WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS AND SELF-ADMINISTRATION FOLLOWING CAFFEINE DEPRIVATION

This study examined the effects of complete or partial caffeine depriv ation on withdrawal symptomatology and self-administration of coffee i n caffeine-dependent coffee drinkers. Nine habitual coffee drinkers ab stained from dietary sources of caffeine for 33.5 h. Caffeine deprivat ion was manipulated by administering capsules containing 0%, 50%, or 1 00% of each subject's daily caffeine intake (complete, partial, and no deprivation conditions). Caffeine withdrawal symptomatology was measu red using self-report questionnaires. Caffeine self-administration was measured using: i) the amount of coffee subjects earned on a series o f concurrent random-ratio schedules that yielded coffee and money rein forcers; ii) the amount of earned coffee they consumed. Saliva samples revealed that subjects complied with the caffeine abstinence instruct ions. Caffeine withdrawal symptoms occurred reliably following complet e caffeine deprivation, though not in the partial deprivation conditio n. Caffeine self-administration was not related to deprivation conditi on. We conclude that caffeine withdrawal symptomatology is not necessa rily associated with increased caffeine consumption.