This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/7827761.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| 'Visions link' to coffee intake | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| People who drink too much coffee could start seeing ghosts or hearing strange voices, UK research has suggested. | People who drink too much coffee could start seeing ghosts or hearing strange voices, UK research has suggested. |
| People who drank more than seven cups of instant coffee a day were three times more likely to hallucinate than those who took just one, a study found. | People who drank more than seven cups of instant coffee a day were three times more likely to hallucinate than those who took just one, a study found. |
| A Durham University team questioned 200 students about their caffeine intake, the journal Personality and Individual Differences reported. | A Durham University team questioned 200 students about their caffeine intake, the journal Personality and Individual Differences reported. |
| However, academics say the findings do not prove a "causal link". | However, academics say the findings do not prove a "causal link". |
| They also stress that experiencing hallucinations is not a definite sign of mental illness and that about 3% of people regularly hear voices. | They also stress that experiencing hallucinations is not a definite sign of mental illness and that about 3% of people regularly hear voices. |
| "This is the first step toward looking at the wider factors associated with hallucinations," said psychology PhD student Simon Jones, who led the study. | "This is the first step toward looking at the wider factors associated with hallucinations," said psychology PhD student Simon Jones, who led the study. |
| Under stress | Under stress |
| He said previous research had suggested factors such as childhood trauma could be linked to hallucinations. | |
| When under stress, the body releases a hormone called cortisol which is produced in greater quantities after consuming caffeine. | When under stress, the body releases a hormone called cortisol which is produced in greater quantities after consuming caffeine. |
| The extra cortisol boost could be what causes a person to hallucinate. | The extra cortisol boost could be what causes a person to hallucinate. |
| Therefore, Mr James added, it made sense to examine the link between caffeine and mood. | |
| Besides coffee, sources such as tea, chocolate, "pep" pills and energy drinks contain caffeine. | Besides coffee, sources such as tea, chocolate, "pep" pills and energy drinks contain caffeine. |
| After asking the students about their typical intake, the research team assessed their susceptibility to hallucinatory experiences and stress levels. | After asking the students about their typical intake, the research team assessed their susceptibility to hallucinatory experiences and stress levels. |
| Pregnancy problems | Pregnancy problems |
| Among the experiences reported were seeing things that were not there, hearing voices, and sensing the presence of dead people. | Among the experiences reported were seeing things that were not there, hearing voices, and sensing the presence of dead people. |
| However, Mr James stressed more work was needed to pin down the link. | |
| He said: "Stressed people may simply drink more caffeine." | |
| And he added: "Even if caffeine were responsible for hallucinations in some way, the part it plays would be small compared to other factors in life." | |
| The researchers now plan to investigate whether other aspects of diet, such as sugar and fat consumption, might be associated with hallucinations. | The researchers now plan to investigate whether other aspects of diet, such as sugar and fat consumption, might be associated with hallucinations. |
| Recent research has linked high caffeine intake among pregnant women to miscarriage or low birth weight. | Recent research has linked high caffeine intake among pregnant women to miscarriage or low birth weight. |
| Other studies suggested it could help prevent skin cancer, reduce nerve damage associated with multiple sclerosis, or cause problems for diabetes sufferers. | Other studies suggested it could help prevent skin cancer, reduce nerve damage associated with multiple sclerosis, or cause problems for diabetes sufferers. |
| The Durham study was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and Medical Research Council. | The Durham study was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and Medical Research Council. |