*RedBull* Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 Cats causing suicide?Oct 10, 2012 8:41 AM EDT A recent study in Denmark implicates an infection spread by cats in causing humans to feel suicidal. The infection is called toxoplasmosis. It is caused by a parasite found, among other places, in the GI tracts of cats. Therefore, contact with cat feces when emptying a cat's litter box is one way humans can get it. Other ways include eating undercooked meat. We have known for some time that toxoplasma antibodies (proof of exposure to the parasite) seem to be elevated in patients with schizophrenia. Now, the Dutch study has found an increased rate of suicide attempts in those with the infection. The study, which looked at 45,000 pregnant women in five counties in Denmark found that 27 percent of them showed antibodies to toxoplasma. Among that 27 percent (as opposed to the other 73 percent of women), self-destructive violence was more common by about 50 percent. And the higher the antibodies to toxoplasm (presumably showing a more significant exposure), the greater the risk. Those with the highest level of antibodies were at almost 100 percent higher risk for self-harm. The actual completed suicide rate was over twice as high in women who had been exposed to toxoplasma as those who had not. Since the total number of suicides was only 18 in the population of 45,000, absolute conclusions are tough to draw, but more experiments should certainly be conducted. One reason toxoplasma could trigger severe psychiatric symptoms-including suicidal ideation-is that it causes inflammation in the central nervous system, raising the levels of inflammatory compounds like interleukin-6. Those inflammatory compounds may be neurotoxic. For now, my guidance for patients who have owned or cared for cats is to consider toxoplasma as potentially playing a role in thoughts of self-harm, which don't seem to be treatable with standard medications and psychotherapy. In such cases, going to see a physician who specializes in infectious disease, armed with your concern about toxoplasma, would be a reasonable step. Treatment of the infection isn't without side effects. But, if your psychiatrist and infectious disease doctor agree, going forward with treatment may make sense as one part of an overall strategy to ward off self-destructive impulses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hum Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 My cat keeps whispering in my ear: "Jump ... jump .... jump now." And same type article posted in July: Study links cat litter box to increased suicide risk oliver182 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*RedBull* Posted October 10, 2012 Author Share Posted October 10, 2012 Yea so the love of ***** is a fatal thing. lol OK now explain why those women with a house full of cats don't kill themselves? Warning: touching remixedcat can kill you :p My cat keeps whispering in my ear: "Jump ... jump .... jump now." lol Wait, Hum why are you standing naked on a ledge anyway? :o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
f0rk_b0mb Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 Yeah, Remixed...how many people have you killed thus far? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Eternal Tempest MVC Posted October 10, 2012 MVC Share Posted October 10, 2012 toxoplamosis is something interesting, there some evidence suggesting it affects women on some level to pay more attention to their looks and more likely to have more than one partner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSoft Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 So...what they are saying is that people in Denmark don't wash their hands after emptying the cat litter box :huh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
threetonesun Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 Other ways include eating undercooked meat. So this story could also be "Eating Steak Rare Linked to Human Suicides", but then we couldn't make fun of the cat people. Spartan Erik and Reacon 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Growled Member Posted October 11, 2012 Member Share Posted October 11, 2012 While my cat says jump my dog says stay. Since I don't know what to do I do nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richteralan Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 Like the sensationalistic title. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Warwagon MVC Posted October 11, 2012 MVC Share Posted October 11, 2012 I would expect nothing less from cats. Shane Ekanayake 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tai Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 undercooked meat ... could also mean we have to cook our kitties a little longer ... Spartan Erik 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remixedcat Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 Only being a heart breaker... And it was about 196 ppl.. eager to meet my quota.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raa Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 Sounds deadly... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PNWDweller Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 I always wash my hands twice with anti-bacterial soap after emptying my cat's litter box. Come to think of it - this might be why my cats use it so much - to get me to empty it more, so I get confused if I washed my hands or not and then kill myself because I forgot. IT'S A CONSPIRACY! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 Interesting article from The Atlantic.... http://m.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/03/how-your-cat-is-making-you-crazy/308873/ thomastmc 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remixedcat Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 wow these studies are ran by miserable people that don't like happy things.... first coffee, now cats, damn.... they can go eat GMO veggies in a concrete box in 110 degree weather listening to country music while wearing rough wool sweaters and never to touch another being again. oh and to have to work on printers non stop forever, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giantsnyy Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 yeah... doesn't make sense. when i'm around my cat (or even my ex's cat) I'm happy. remixedcat 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mohitster Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 Only being a heart breaker... And it was about 196 ppl.. eager to meet my quota.. Is it weird that I thought about you when I read this article? :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remixedcat Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 Is it weird that I thought about you when I read this article? :p LOL yeah... but I am THE CAT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
francescob Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 Being infected from meat is far, far more likely than getting infected by your cat unless your cat regularly goes outside and kills/eats rats. Knowing this, always think twice before feeding your cats ratatouille one more time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 FYI: the CDC puts the rate of US persons aged 12-49 with antibodies to T. gondi at about 15%. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remixedcat Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 also you would have to be eating the cat's nuggets from the cat box in order to really get infected.... and I hope there aren't that many people eating that or the world is an even scarier place.... *RedBull* 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisp Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 What if you have cat and a dog? :wacko: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan~ Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 It's because Cats are vermin ad should be culled to be honest, unless they are on a lead at all times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*RedBull* Posted October 11, 2012 Author Share Posted October 11, 2012 also you would have to be eating the cat's nuggets from the cat box in order to really get infected.... and I hope there aren't that many people eating that or the world is an even scarier place.... Mmm......kitty nuggets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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