The effectiveness of self-report to tapering off and economic tokens on coffee addiction

Abstract

Excessive caffeine consumption can lead to addiction characterized by functional dependence and withdrawal symptoms when consumption is stopped abruptly. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of behavioral interventions in the form of self-report to tapering off and token economics in reducing the quantity of coffee consumption in individuals with coffee addiction. This research method used a single-subject experimental design on a 28-year-old woman who had a history of coffee addiction for 4 years with a consumption of more than 5 cups per day. The intervention was carried out over three weeks including daily recording and token value-based rewarding. The results showed a significant decrease in average coffee consumption from 3.14 cups in the first week to 1.14 cups in the third week. Participants were able to maintain consumption at a minimum without experiencing symptoms of substance breakdown at the end of the intervention. The combination of self-reporting and token economics has been shown to be effective in facilitating brain neurobiological adaptations and improving participant adherence in gradually reducing caffeine consumption.