794 Conditions for Further Study
most commonly endorsed criteria being withdr awal (96%), persistent desire or unsuccess-
ful efforts to control use (89%), and use de spite knowledge of physical or psychological
problems caused by caffeine (87%). The most  common reasons for wanting to modify caf-
feine use were health-related (59%) and a desire to not be dependent on caffeine (35%).
The DSM-5 discussion of ca ffeine withdrawal in the Section II chapter “Substance-
Related and Addictive Disorders” provides info rmation on the features of the withdrawal
criterion. It is well documented  that habitual caffeine users can experience a well-defined
withdrawal syndrome upon ac ute abstinence from caffeine, and many caffeine-dependent
individuals report continued use of caffeine to avoid experiencing withdrawal symptoms. 
Prevalence
The prevalence of caffeine use di sorder in the general population is unclear. Based on all
seven generic DSM-IV-TR criteria for dependence, 30% of current caffeine users may have
met DSM-IV criteria for a diagnosis of caffei ne dependence, with endorsement of three or
more dependence criteria, during the past year . When only four of the seven criteria (the
three primary criteria proposed above plus to lerance) are used, the prevalence appears to
drop to 9%. Thus, the expected prevalence of caffeine use disorder among regular caffeine
users is likely less than 9%. Given that approximately 75%–80% of the general population
uses caffeine regularly, the estimated preval ence would be less than 7%. Among regular
caffeine drinkers at higher risk for caffeine use problems (e.g., high school and college stu-
dents, individuals in drug treatment, and indi viduals at pain clinics who have recent his-
tories of alcohol or illicit drug misuse), ap proximately 20% may have a pattern of use that