PTI

New York, Nov 30: Is your first craving in the morning for your computer mouse or do you obsessively check email in the middle of the night? If so, try to get rid of the habit, otherwise you may soon experience deep depression.

A team of international researchers has carried out a study and found that those addicted to web surfing are afflicted with Internet addiction disorder -- a pathological condition that can lead to anxiety and severe depression, the 'ScienceDaily' reported.

"Internet addiction is not manifesting itself as an 'urge.' It's more than that. It's a deep 'craving.' They (the addicts) are just like anyone else who is addicted to coffee, exercise, or talking on their cellular phone.

"Sufferers of Internet addiction disorder may experience loss of sleep, anxiety when not online, isolation from family and peer groups, loss of work, and periods of deep depression," according to lead researcher Dr. Pinhas Dannon.

In fact, Dr Dannon of Tel Aviv University's Sackler Faculty of Medicine and his fellow researchers came to the conclusion after analysing the effects of Internet addiction on a group of people aged between 16 and 60.

According to their findings, teenagers and people in their 50s  those suffering from the loneliness of an "empty nest" -- are at greatest risk from Internet addiction disorder. The results have been published in the 'Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology'.

"But we are saying that we need to look at Internet addiction differently. And if we don't make the change in the way we classify Internet addiction, we won't be able to treat it in the proper way," Dr Dannon was quoted as saying.