Caffeine has often been attributed as something that’s bad for kids and required for adults. This is due to the assessment that seems to be based on the observation that children tend to naturally be more vigorous and active. However, it seems quite the opposite happens to someone with ADHD. Instead of becoming overly hyperactive, the consumer becomes more focused. This seems due to Caffeine’s ability to stimulate the brain when experiencing fatigue or low arousal. Naturally, the brain would enter a state of boredom when in a situation of low arousal or fatigue. In this situation, Caffeine would stimulate the brain, preventing boredom to ensue. So, Caffeine isn’t exactly supposed to enhance one’s attention, or prevent distraction directly like other treatments, rather it gives something to stimulate the brain, so distraction is less likely to factor in. The article by Diogo R. Lara, which I mainly attribute the info from this section even clearly says it.
“ However, caffeine failed to reduce resistance to distraction” D.R. Lara / Caffeine and Psychiatry S243
In layman’s terms, it’s a preventative measure. One is less likely to be distracted if they are in a state in which boredom is reduced, however being a mindset where one is less likely to be distracted doesn’t prevent distraction, it just minimizes the likeliness.
Caffeine, Mental Health, and Psychiatric Disorders
Further beyond this, it seems one’s distraction with ADHD, can be linked to sleep deprivation, further explaining the connection between caffeine and ADHD. Cipollone Gaida reports, not only that there is a relationship between ADHD and sleep deprivation at childhood, but it seems to continue on in adulthood as well. Amongst Military members, it was shown that subjects with ADHD, while their performance was better with caffeine in their system, the study had shown that most of the soldiers with ADHD did have the greatest struggle going to sleep in comparison to their contemporaries, with the subjects averaging anywhere from 30 minutes for sleep preparation to even further beyond. Outside of Caffeine use, Soldiers with ADHD were also shown to have higher use of tobacco products and alcohol.
Considering the factors present in the information I found, it seems ADHD, can potentially be greater controlled, through better sleep patterns. This is due to the use of caffeine as a treatment, having similar results, to others with standard sleep deprivation, and it’s prevalence in adulthood. Even the prominence of alcohol use in adults with ADHD can be attributed to the need to better engage in sleep. This is however merely a small hypothesis I desired to bring up given what was presented in the studies I read, rather than anything conclusive. Regardless at the moment, caffeine seems to be a suitable substitute or side treatment to standard medications. However one thing Caffeine seems to have that prescription like Rittilan and Adderall, there seems to be less of a need to increase the dosage, as well as seemingly having fewer withdrawal symptoms. “
“If proven effective, caffeine has the advantage of being easily available without the level of abuse potential of methylphenidate and amphetamine derivatives” D.R. Lara / Caffeine and Psychiatry S244
Rellis 