Facebook Could Make You Mentally Ill, Say Scientists

Social networking sites were found to affect your mental health, claim scientists.

They have linked psychotic episodes in patients to internet addiction and delusions related to virtual relationships, the Daily Express reported.

Internet Addiction Disorder / Problematic Internet Use-Causes-Symptoms-Treatment
Internet addiction disorder is of 3 types, excessive gaming, sexual preoccupations and email / text messaging.

While all the participants in a study had social problems such as loneliness, none had previous episodes of psychosis or drug abuse.

"As internet access becomes increasingly widespread, so do related psychopathologies," Lead researcher Dr Uri Nitzan said.

"Some patients are harmed by these social networking sites, which can attract those who are lonely or vulnerable in their day-to-day lives or act as a platform for cyber-bullying and other predatory behaviour," Nitzan said.

Data Shows That People Are Getting Over Facebook
'Facebook fatigue' has reached Australia. New data has revealed that almost 400,000 users have drifted away from the social network since December.

Focusing on Dr Nitzan's patients, researchers found they had all sought refuge from a lonely situation and found solace in intense virtual relationships.

Although these relationships were positive at first, they eventually led to feelings of hurt, betrayal and invasion of privacy.

Is Facebook Losing Its Popularity?
A new study has found that the popularity of Facebook is on the wane and many of its users are opting for other social networks.

Dr Nitzan, of Tel Aviv Univers-ity's Sackler Faculty of Medicine and the Shalvata Mental Health Care Centre, said: "All the patients developed psychotic symptoms related to the situation, including delusions regarding the person behind the screen and their connection through the computer."

The study is published in the Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences.

Number of Interests on Facebook Profile Could Give a Hint Towards Past Romantic Relationships
A person’s past romantic relationships can be found out through the number of interests listed in his or her Facebook profile, a new study reveals.

Source-ANI