2024-05-03 08:07:53
Many people enjoy keeping cats and some consider cuddling a cat to have a positive effect, but a new study indicates that contact with these animals may have adverse effects on mental health in the future.
According to what was published by Fox News, research published in “Schizoophrenia Bolton” found that people struggling with the cats They may be more than twice as likely to develop schizophrenia or other similar mental disorders later in life.
Australian researchers also conducted… University of Queensland A systematic review of 17 studies conducted in 11 countries between January 1, 1980 and May 30, 2023, and all studies focused on participants who owned cats in the first 25 years of their lives and experienced consequences linked to schizophrenia, according to researchers. .
Be careful not to expose your children to cats
A new study suggests that exposure to cats early in life may have harmful effects on… Mental Health In the future, they might include psychotic symptoms Hallucinations Delusions and thought disorders.
And schizophrenia It is a mental illness that affects a person’s thoughts, behaviors, and feelings, as defined by the United States National Institute of Mental Health.
People with this disorder may also experience cognitive difficulties, loss of motivation, withdrawal from social activities, difficulty expressing emotions, and a general lack of performance.
The study author said Dr John McGrathHe is a psychiatrist at 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, adding: “While observational epidemiology cannot prove this association, this topic requires more detailed research.”
McGrath went on to say: “Schizophrenia is an incredibly complex disorder, and this study identifies a potential risk factor that needs to be understood in a broader context, namely a group of disorders that are not well understood, and in which we need to invest more. research on risk factors. There is potentially a lot of work to be done.
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Do not panic
For his part, Dr. Zachary Ginder, psychological consultant and clinical psychologist at Penn Sexen Consulting, said: California: “It’s important to stay calm regarding these results, and don’t panic if you own a cat, have children, or are planning to start a family.”
He added: “Schizophrenia is an incredibly complex disorder, and this study identifies a potential risk factor that needs to be understood in a broader context. It is probably too early to make strong recommendations regarding cat ownership based solely on these findings. »
Although there has been an association between exposure to cats early in women’s lives and schizophrenia, Ginder emphasized that this does not necessarily indicate that exposure caused the disorder.
Fox News quoted Ginder as saying: “Much research is needed to better understand these relationships, and it is important to emphasize that not all people exposed to cats or infected with the parasite develop mental health problems, and not all people Not all people with schizophrenia have it. been exposed to cats. “Although this parasite may play a role, it is likely part of a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors.”
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