Working Too Much Can Give You the Blues

THURSDAY, Jan. 26 (HealthDay News) -- People who work overtime are at much greater risk for depression, according to a new study.

Researchers followed roughly 2,000 middle-aged British government workers and after taking other risk factors for depression into account, found that workers on the job for 11 hours or more each day are twice as likely to suffer from depression as those who work just seven to eight hours daily.

The study was published online Jan. 25 in the journal PLoS ONE.

"Although occasionally working overtime may have benefits for the individual and society, it is important to recognize that working excessive hours is also associated with an increased risk of major depression," said study Dr. Marianna Virtanen of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health and University College London in a journal news release.

More information

The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health provides more information on

depression .

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