Despite a spate of positive news, it looks like the iPod-naysayer brigade is back at work.

A psychiatric expert has warned that excessive iPod use could cause serious psychological disturbances.

Research by Dr Victor Aziz of Whitchurch Hospital in Cardiff has found that people who listen to a lot of music through their iPod can suffer ‘musical hallucinations’, where a song plays constantly in one’s head.

“People find they can’t eat and can’t think properly,” Dr Aziz told reporters for the Evening Standard.

Dr Aziz, whose findings are published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry this week said: “Having a song in your head every now and then is quite normal but musical hallucinations can be quite distressing.”

It appears the iPod has been named as one of the main agents of this phenomenon solely because of its popularity. Users of other audio devices, such as other MP3 players, radios, televisions and stereos, are equally at risk.

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