- With Mayo Clinic psychiatrist
Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D.
Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D.
Dr. Daniel Hall-Flavin, board certified in general psychiatry and addiction psychiatry, is a St. Louis native looking to the Internet as a way to help people improve their health and be more active participants in their own health care by learning from Mayo Clinic's experts.
Dr. Hall-Flavin has been a member of the faculties of Cornell University Medical College, New York Medical College, and The George Washington University Medical School before joining the Mayo Clinic staff in 1996. He has special interests in adult psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, and psychogenomics. He has served as medical director of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence from 1986 to 1999.
"With the advent of the genomics and proteomics revolution and the pace of advances in medicine, informed collaborative relationships between knowledgeable, capable health professionals and informed, proactive individuals and their families are more vital than ever," he said.
"I'm optimistic that our Internet health education activities will contribute to ever-improving health outcomes for all who participate and apply what is learned."
Definition (1)
- 'Clinical depression': What does that mean?
Symptoms (3)
- Nervous breakdown: What does it mean?
- Pain and depression: Is there a link?
- Atypical depression: What is it?
Causes (4)
- Caffeine and depression: Is there a link?
- Vitamin B-12 and depression: Are they related?
- Marijuana and depression: What's the link?
- see all in Causes
Complications (1)
- Depression and anxiety: Can I have both?
Treatments and drugs (9)
- Antidepressants and alcohol: What is the concern?
- Antidepressants: Can they lose effectiveness over time?
- Lexapro side effects: Is breast tenderness common?
- see all in Treatments and drugs
Alternative medicine (1)
- Fish oil supplements: Can they treat depression?
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Question
Caffeine and depression: Is there a link?
What's the relationship between caffeine and depression? Does caffeine make depression worse?
Answer
from Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D.
There's no research that shows a direct link between caffeine and depression. However, caffeine and depression may be linked indirectly for people who are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine — a mild stimulant — than are others. In such individuals, a possible connection between caffeine and depression may merit trying a few changes.
- Caffeine and depression may be linked to sleep. Caffeine can make it more difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. A lack of sleep can worsen depression. If you have trouble sleeping, don't drink caffeinated beverages late in the day. Some people need to limit caffeine consumption to the morning, or quit drinking caffeinated beverages altogether to avoid sleep problems.
- Stopping abruptly can worsen depression if you regularly consume caffeine. Quitting caffeine can also cause other signs and symptoms such as headaches, fatigue and irritability.
If you have depression, you may consider limiting or avoiding caffeine to see if it helps improve your mood. To lessen these withdrawal effects, gradually reduce the amount of caffeine you consume.
Next questionVitamin B-12 and depression: Are they related?
- Partinen M. Nutrition and sleep. In: Chokroverty S: Sleep Disorders Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7506-7584-0..00023-9--s0050&uniq=160612249&isbn=978-0-7506-7584-0&sid=889258464#lpState=open&lpTab=contentsTab&content=4-u1.0-B978-0-7506-7584-0..00023-9--s0015%3Bfrom%3Dtoc%3Btype%3DbookPage%3Bisbn%3D978-0-7506-7584-0. Accessed Sept. 17, 2009.
- Caffeine withdrawal. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Sept. 17, 2009.
- Smith A. Effects of caffeine on human behavior. Food and Chemical Toxicology. 2002;40:1243.
