New research on the relationship between cat ownership and schizophrenia

Researchers from Australia found a link between cat ownership and schizophrenia after analyzing 17 studies published over the past 44 years, from 11 countries, including the US and UK.

More results on the link between cats and schizophrenia

Researchers found a link between cat ownership and increased incidence of schizophrenia-related disorders - (Photo: Hepper)

Psychiatrist John McGrath and colleagues, all from the Queensland Center for Mental Health Research, explain: "We found an association between cat ownership and the incidence of these disorders. associated with increased schizophrenia".

The idea that cat ownership may be linked to a risk of schizophrenia was suggested in a 1995 study, with exposure to a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii thought to be reason.

But so far, research has reached mixed conclusions.

Studies have found that being around cats during childhood can make a person more susceptible to schizophrenia. However, not all studies find this association.

Some people also link exposure to cats with higher scores on scales measuring schizophrenia-related traits, effects on thinking, emotions and behavior, and dysthymic-like experiences. God. In contrast, again, other studies showed no association.

To get a clearer picture, McGrath and his team say it's necessary to thoroughly review and analyze all the research on these topics. Toxoplasma gondii is a virtually harmless parasite that can be transmitted through undercooked meat or contaminated water.

Bites from infected cats or infected cat feces can also transmit Toxoplasma gondii .

An estimated 40 million people in the US may be infected, often without any symptoms. Meanwhile, researchers continue to find more strange effects that the infection can cause.

Once in the human body, Toxoplasma gondii can penetrate the central nervous system and affect neurotransmitters. This parasite is associated with personality changes, the appearance of psychotic symptoms and a number of neurological disorders, including schizophrenia.

More research is needed to conclude

"After adjusting for covariates, we found that people exposed to cats had approximately twice the risk of developing schizophrenia," the team said .

There are some important things to keep in mind here, such as the fact that 15 of the 17 studies were case-control studies. This type of study cannot prove cause and effect, and often does not consider factors that may influence both exposure and outcome. Some of the studies reviewed were of low quality, something the authors also highlighted.

A study in the US, involving 354 psychology students, found no association between owning a cat and schizophrenia scores. However, people who were bitten by cats scored higher than those who were not bitten by cats.

Another study, including people with and without psychiatric disorders, found a link between cat bites and higher scores on tests measuring specific psychological experiences. But they suggest that other pathogens such as Pasteurella multocida could be an alternative cause.

Researchers agree that better and broader research is needed before any firm explanations can be offered.

In summary, our review provides evidence supporting an association between cat ownership and schizophrenia-related disorders. More high-quality studies are needed, the authors write. based on large representative samples to better understand cat ownership as a factor that may modify the risk of psychiatric disorders" .