Watching medical dramas feeds health fears

Belgian researchers said the tragedies and medical horrors played out on ER, Casualty and Holby City may have a subliminal influence.

They questioned 1300 teenagers about their viewing habits, and found worries increased among those watching more medical drama. A UK expert said fretting about illness was particularly common in teenagers.

The three year research project was presented to a British Psychological Society meeting in Bath on Wednesday.

The level of health fear measured in the teenagers grew by as much as 10% after a diet of hospital programmes, and girls appeared to be more affected than boys.

Even hospital documentary programmes, and news reports about health, were implicated.