Let this always be a reminder to check your sources.

A new study tabled by scientists at East Carolina University has found that playing casual, easygoing games can reduce anxiety and depression in those that play the titles every day.

The titles named specifically in the study include iPhone and PC casual favorites like Bejeweled, Peggle, and Bookworm. 59 people participated in the study and those who spent an average of 40 minutes playing the games had a 57 per cent reduction in depression symptoms. Other violent emotions like tension, anger, and fatigue were also cited as being lowered as part of the study.

In a statement, lead author Dr. Carmen Russoniello said, "The results of this study clearly demonstrate the intrinsic value of certain casual games in terms of significant, positive effects on the moods and anxiety levels of people suffering from any level of depression."

But wait, if you like to do a little thing called questioning sources, this one comes with a doozy. The study was commissioned by none other than PopCap games, the same publisher/developer of two of the above named titles.

If you ask me, just having a casual games developer involved in a study involving casual gaming nulls and voids the entire study. This would be like Coca-cola financing a study that gives evidence that drinking Coke measurably increases your sex appeal. Spoiler, it doesn't.