New Study Shows Link Between Cat Ownership and Increased Risk of Schizophrenia

According to what was published by Fox News, research published in “Schizophrenia Bolton” found that people who deal with the cats They may be more than twice as likely to develop schizophrenia and other similar mental disorders later in life.

Australian researchers also… University of Queensland A systematic review of 17 studies conducted in 11 countries between January 1, 1980, and May 30, 2023, all of which focused on participants who owned cats in the first 25 years of their lives and experienced schizophrenia-related outcomes, according to the researchers. .

Be careful not to expose your children to cats

A new study suggests that exposure to cats early in life can have a negative impact on… Mental health In the future, they may include psychiatric symptoms Hallucinations Delusions and thought disorders.

And schizophrenia It is a mental illness that affects the thoughts, behavior and feelings of a person, as defined by the National Institute of Mental Health in the United States.

People with this disorder may experience cognitive challenges, loss of motivation, withdrawal from social activities, difficulty expressing emotions, and a general lack of performance.

The author of the study said Dr. John McCrathHe is a psychologist in Queensland Institute “Based on previous studies, there is evidence linking cat ownership to an increased risk of later developing schizophrenia,” the University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia, told Fox News Digital.

But McGrath acknowledged that the study had some limitations, saying: “Although observational epidemiology cannot prove this link, this topic needs further investigation.

McGrath continued, saying: “Schizophrenia is an extremely complex disorder, and this study points to one risk factor that may be understood in a wider context, which is that’s a group of disorders that are not understood, and we need to invest in more. research looking at risk factors.” It could, there’s a lot of work to be done.”

Don’t be afraid

For his part, Dr. Zachary Ginder, a psychological consultant and clinical psychologist at Penn Sexen Consulting, said: California: “It is important that you keep your confidence when considering these results, and do not panic if you have a cat, if you have children or if you are thinking of starting a family.

He said: “Schizophrenia is a very complex disorder, and this study identifies a risk factor that may be understood in a wider context. It is probably too early to make strong recommendations about cat ownership based on these findings alone.”

Although there has been a link between exposure to cats early in a woman’s life and schizophrenia, Ginder emphasized that this does not necessarily indicate that the exposure causes the disorder.

Fox News quoted Ginder as saying: “A lot of research is needed to better understand these relationships, and it’s important to clarify that not everyone who is exposed to or infected with cats will develop mental health problems.” with the parasite, and that not all people with schizophrenia have mental health problems. has been exposed to cats.” “While this parasite may play a role, it appears to be part of a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors.”