Internet addicts have a higher risk of depression

Teenagers who spend too much time on the Internet have almost 50 percent more likely to develop depression than moderate users, according to a Chinese study.

The researcher Lawrence Lam said that teenagers who spend 50-10 hours a day online when they are not present agitation in front of computer and lose interest in social interactions.

"Some spend more than ten hours a day, they are really problematic users and show signs and symptoms of addictive behavior ... while browsing the Internet and play games," said Lam, co-author of the study published Tuesday in The Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

"They can not take the head of the Internet, they feel restless if not returned after a short distance," the psychologist said by telephone from the School of Medicine, University of Notre Dame, Sydney.

They do not want to see friends, do not want to participate in family meetings, not to spend time with parents and siblings," he added."Who goes too long the Internet loses sleep and is a well established fact that the less you sleep, the better the chances of depression," said Lam