title: Use of coffee, caffeinated drinks and caffeine tablets for cognitive enhancement in pupils and students in Germany.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Substance use for cognitive enhancement (CE) is a topic of increasing importance. There are only few data about substances, prevalence rates and factors associated with CE. The aim of this study was to assess first data about the use of coffee, caffeinated drinks and caffeine tablets for CE at school and university.
  
  
  METHODS
  A self-report questionnaire was developed to analyze 1 547 pupils and students about their use of coffee, caffeine tablets, and caffeinated drinks for CE and factors associated with this use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lifetime, past-year, and past-month prevalence for the use of coffee for CE was 53.2%, 8.5%, and 6.3%, for the use of caffeinated drinks 39%, 10.7%, and 6.3%, and for the use of caffeine tablets 10.5%, 3.8%, and 0.8%. Use of caffeinated substances for CE was influenced by gender and school grades.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of coffee and caffeinated drinks for CE was found to be widespread in the surveyed population. Although the use of caffeine tablets was found to be smaller than the above-mentioned means, it still indicates a relatively high disposition for using tablets for purposes of CE.
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Centre Mainz, Mainz, Germany. afranke@uni-mainz.de
authors: A G
authors: AG
authors: Franke
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Christmann
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Bonertz
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Fellgiebel
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Huss
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Lieb
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001628:Beverages; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003069:Coffee; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013607:Tablets; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D003069:Coffee; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D013607:Tablets; D002110:Caffeine