Depression

Depression, or major depressive disorder, is a common and serious illness that negatively effects how one feels, thinks, and acts. It causes feelings of sadness and loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed, as well as fatigue, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions, increased restless activity, or slowed movements and speech, insomnia, sleeping too much, and changes in appetite. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can reduce the individual's ability to function and work and at home.1

 

Impact of coffee on depression

  • Study on 50,739 women from the US, with a mean age of 63 free of depressive symptoms at the baseline in 1996
  • They were followed up in 2006
  • Caffeine consumption was measured throughout
  • Compared with women consuming 1 or less cups of coffee per day, the multivariate risk of depression was 0.85 for those consuming 2-3 cups of coffee per day, and 0.80 for those consuming 4 or more cups of coffee per day. (coffee was caffeinated)
  • Decaffeinated coffee was not associated with depression risk
  • The conclusions were that depression risk decreases with increased caffeinated coffee consumption

 

A study began on 50,739 women from the US, with a mean age of 63 years old, and who were free from depressive symptoms in 1996. They were followed up in June 2006. Their consumption of caffeinated coffee was measured with validated questionnaires completed from May 1980 to April 2004 and computed as a cumulative mean consumption with a 2-year latency period applied. The women were followed up until 2006. In the 10 years of follow up (1996-2006) 2607 cases of depression were diagnosed. The results of the study showed that, compared with women who consumed 1 or less cups of caffeinated coffee per day, the multivariate risk of depression was 0.85 for those consuming 2-3 cup of caffeinated coffee per day, and 0.80 for those consuming 4 or more cups of caffeinated coffee per day. Decaffeinated coffee was not associated with a reduced risk of depression. The conclusions drawn from the study were that depression risk decreases as caffeinated coffee consumption increases.2

 

Sources

            1 American Psychiatric Association - What Is Depression? 

         2 Jama Internal Medicine - Coffee, Caffeine, and Risk of Depression Among Women