Do have cat? You may develop serious mental disorders like Schizophrenia–Here’s why – Life News

A new study has revealed a shocking link between having cats as pets and developing schizophrenia-related disorders. According to the study, having a cat as a pet could potentially double a person’s risk of serious mental disorders.

A team of Australian disorders conducted an analysis of 17 studies published during the last 44 years, from 11 countries including the US and the UK.

“We found an association between broadly defined cat ownership and increased odds of developing schizophrenia-related disorders,” explained psychiatrist John McGrath and fellow researchers, all from the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, in their study published last December.

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According to a report by ScienceAlert, the idea that cat ownership could be linked to schizophrenia risk was proposed in a 1995 study. Reportedly, the suggested cause was exposure to a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. But the research so far has put forth mixed conclusions.

Studies show that being around cats during childhood might make a person more likely to develop schizophrenia; however, not all studies have found an association. Other studies also link cat exposure to higher scores on scales that measure traits related to schizophrenia – which affects a person’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors – and psychotic-like experiences, but again, other studies don’t show this connection.

The new analysis of 17 studies found “a significant positive association between broadly defined cat ownership and an increased risk of schizophrenia-related disorders”.

According to the researchers, they found that individuals exposed to cats had approximately twice the odds of developing schizophrenia. However, the authors also highlight that a number of the studies that were looked at were of low quality.

Another study, which included people with and without mental disorders, highlighted a connection between cat bites and higher scores on tests measuring particular psychological experiences. However they suggested other pathogens such as Pasteurella multocida may be responsible instead.

The researchers agree that better and broader research is needed before we can make any firm interpretations, ScienceAlert reported.

“In conclusion, our review provides support for an association between cat ownership and schizophrenia-related disorders. There is a need for more high-quality studies, based on large, representative samples to better understand cat ownership as a candidate risk-modifying factor for mental disorders,” the authors wrote

The study was published in Schizophrenia Bulletin journal.