"Caffeine is the world's most commonly used stimulant, and it's cheap and readily available, so people can maintain their use of caffeine quite easily," said Roland Griffiths, a professor of psychiatry and neuroscience who led the review of 170 years' worth of research on caffeine.

The analysis of 57 experimental studies and nine surveys found that people who didn't have their usual dose of caffeine experienced a range of withdrawal symptoms, including headache, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. Some also experienced flu-like symptoms, with nausea and muscle pain.

The researchers said that people can reduce or eliminate their addiction to caffeine by consuming less coffee or drinking decaffeinated products.

As a result of the study's findings, Griffiths is urging that caffeine addiction be included in the benchmark Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

The study is published in the October 2004 issue of the journal Psychopharmacology.

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