A recent study found that owning a cat as a pet may double your risk of developing schizophrenia-related disorders.
Australian researchers analysed 17 studies published over the past 44 years in 11 countries, including the US and the UK.
“We found an association between cat ownership, broadly defined, and an increased risk of developing schizophrenia-related disorders.” Explained Psychiatrist John McGrath and colleagues at the Queensland Mental Health Research Centre addressed this in a study published in December last year.
The idea that owning a cat could be linked to: Schizophrenia The risk was suggested by ~ 1995 studyWhen exposed to parasites Toxoplasma gondii It has been suggested as a cause, but studies to date have yielded mixed conclusions.
Research Results There is also a fact that being around cats as a child can increase the risk of developing schizophrenia. Not all research We found a connection.
Also some of them Cat exposure linked to higher scores On a scale that measures traits associated with schizophrenia – which affect a person’s thoughts, feelings and behaviours and make them experience psychosis – again, other studies have found Don’t show this connection.
To get a clearer picture, McGrath and his team say it’s necessary to thoroughly review and analyze all the research on the topic.
T.Gondi Most are harmless parasites, but can be transmitted through undercooked meat or contaminated water.
It can also be transmitted through a bite from an infected cat or through the feces of an infected cat. Gondii. It is estimated There are about 40 million people living in the United States. It can be contagious and usually has no symptoms. Meanwhile, researchers continue to discover more. Strange effects that infection can have.
Once inside our body, T.Gondi They can penetrate the central nervous system and affect neurotransmitters. The parasite Associated with personality changesSymptoms of psychosis appear and some neurological disorders, including schizophrenia, occur.
But links don’t prove anything. T.Gondi It may be that something caused this change, or that the parasite was transmitted from the cat to the human.
A new analysis of 17 studies Establish “There is a significant positive association between cat ownership, broadly defined, and an increased risk of schizophrenia-related disorders”.
“After adjusting for covariates, we found that individuals exposed to cats were approximately twice as likely to develop schizophrenia.” Explained.
There are a few important things to keep in mind here, such as the fact that 15 of the 17 studies were case-control studies. These types of studies cannot prove cause and effect, and often do not look at factors that may have influenced both the exposure and the outcome.
Many of the studies reviewed were of low quality, a point the authors emphasized.
Although findings were inconsistent across studies, higher quality studies suggested that associations in unadjusted models may be due to factors that could influence the results.
What one study found was that There was no significant association between cat ownership before age 13 and later development of schizophrenia, but a significant association was found when the duration of cat ownership was narrowed to a specific period (ages 9–12). This discrepancy suggests that the critical period for cat exposure is not clearly defined.
no way Study in the United StatesA study of 354 psychology students found no association between cat ownership and schizophrenia scores, but those who had been bitten by cats had higher scores than those who had not.
Another studyThe researchers, who included people with and without mental disorders, found a link between cat bites and higher scores on tests measuring specific psychological experiences. However, they suggested other pathogens, such as: Pasteurella multiflora Instead, you may be responsible.
Researchers agree that more effective and extensive studies are needed before any definitive interpretation can be made.
“In conclusion, our review supports an association between cat ownership and schizophrenia-related disorders,” the authors write. Wrote.
“More high-quality studies based on large, representative samples are needed to better understand whether cat ownership is a candidate risk modifier for mental disorders.”
The study was published in Schizophrenia Bulletin Board.
An earlier version of this article was published in December 2023.
