The Link Between Cat Ownership and Schizophrenia: A New Meta-Study

A new meta-study suggests that having a cat as a pet could double a person’s risk of schizophrenia-related disorders.

Australian researchers have conducted an analysis of 17 studies published over the past 44 years.

“We found a link between cat ownership and a greater chance of developing schizophrenia-related disorders,” to write psychiatrist John McGrath and fellow researchers, all from the Queensland Center for Mental Health Research.

The idea that there is a link between cat ownership and the risk of schizophrenia was suggested in one study from 1995which involves exposure to a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii was suggested as the cause.

To get a clearer picture, McGrath and his team say there is a need for a thorough review and analysis of all research on these topics. Because the fact that the two phenomena – having a cat and developing a mental illness – occur relatively often in combination does not say anything about cause and effect.

Bron(nen): Sciencealert