Dubai : Residents who cannot get enough of social networking websites like Facebook or MySpace may be unknowingly suffering from poor mental health, warn psychologists. Social anxiety, loneliness, escapism - or even a bitter relationship - could be the real reason behind the countless hours spent on online messages and photos, they said.

Facebook overuse has been labelled as FAD, or Facebook Addiction Disorder, a spin-off of the Internet Addiction Disorder theory floated in the 1990s. Many users confess to the portal's ‘addictive' qualities.

The Arabic Facebook is the top Arabic website in the UAE and social networking accounts for 24 per cent of internet activity, a Nielsen survey of 402 respondents in the country shows.

Though psychologists said FAD is not strictly a clinical or medical condition, there's a danger of going overboard. "There's a potential for near-addiction of excessive use. That's difficult to put into numbers but certainly if it's hurting your work or relationships, you could have an underlying problem," said Dr Aisha Hamdan, a psychologist in Sharjah.

When reality bites

Escapism - a tendency to distract oneself with entertainment when facing a real-life problem - can be one reason behind endless Facebook time, said Linda Sakr, a psychologist at the Dubai Community Health Centre.

"It may have negative ramifications for someone coming out of a relationship, as they may keep clicking for updates regarding the ex-partner and see information that they may not be prepared to see," added Dr Melanie Schlatter, Health Psychologist, Well Woman Clinic.

Shaikh Abdul Hamid Al Atrash, former head of the commission for religious rulings at Egypt's Al Azhar University, has slammed Facebook as a sin as it leads to cheating and divorce. But a leading Dubai religious scholar said its value depends on use. "Anything can be criticised or appreciated," said Shaikh Ahmad Al Qubaisi. "I'm one of those people who wonder about friends from the old days. I feel so happy when one of them contacts me." He added: "But we as humans can be extreme with dealing with things, and Facebook is one of them."