Cat Owners Are More Likely To Suffer Mental Health Problems, Researchers Warn

Cat owners are more at risk of developing mental health problems, according to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry this week. University of Chicago researchers found that a common parasite originating in cat feces doubles the chances of acquiring Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED), a mental condition that triggers unmanageable and explosive bouts of anger over trivial issues.

The Telegraph reports that the recent study discovered that a significant number of patients who suffered IED were positive of toxoplasmosis, an infection that could alter the brain chemistry of a person. This infection is caused by toxoplasma gondii, a parasite found in cat feces. Aside from IED, earlier studies have also linked toxoplasmosis with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, suicidal behavior and impulsivity.

The researchers drew their conclusions by looking at 358 patients who had been assessed for IED, depression, personality disorders and other psychiatric problems. They evaluated the patients based on their traits like aggression, anger and impulsivity.

Initial investigations discovered that at least 30 percent of the participants had IED, 30 percent were suffering from one of the psychiatric disorders, and the rest had no psychiatric problem. Further analysis revealed that 22 percent of the patients who suffered IED had toxoplasmosis.

According to the Inquisitr, almost 16 million of Americans are affected with IED, which is bigger compared to the combined number of patients who are suffering bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. But research leader Dr. Emil Coccaro clarified that aggression issues do not always occur to people who are tested positive for toxoplasmosis.

"Not everyone that tests positive for toxoplasmosis will have aggression issues. But exposure to the parasite does appear to raise the risk for aggressive behavior. More research is needed to determine whether the link is causal, and what, if any, the underlying biological mechanism may be," Coccaro explained.

He added that some people become immune to toxoplasmosis for the rest of their lives after getting the infection. He, however, warned cat owners that the infection will still lead to serious health problems like weak immune system and pregnancy complications.