Eliminating caffeine among patients with schizophrenia does not appear to make them better or worse. Acute intake of large amounts of caffeine may increase psychoses and hostility.

Can schizophrenics drink coffee?

High doses of caffeine are particularly concerning for individuals with schizophrenia; caffeine alters dopaminergic activity at post-synaptic neurons through its actions at adenosine A2A receptors, which may exacerbate positive symptoms, such as delusions and hallucination.

Why do schizophrenics drink coffee?

These results suggest that patients may be using large doses of caffeine because they are gaining some cognitive benefit. It has also been suggested that patients with schizophrenia may be using caffeine to counteract negative symptoms [17].