Soap operas blamed for depression
A leading psychologist claims soap operas are making people depressed.
Dr Raj Presaud says EastEnders, Coronation Street and Brookside are too gloomy.
But BBC bosses say it is "insulting" to think that viewers believe what they see on soaps.
Dr Presaud said: "Research indicates that people's understanding of the frequency of abortions, divorce and adultery is distorted by watching soaps. They think these bad things happen a lot more frequently than they actually do in real life.
"Soap writers can make people unnecessarily pessimistic."
BBC head of drama Mal Young said: "It's not true that people believe what they see on soaps. That's insulting."
