Dataset Information

Childhood Cat Bites Relate to Increased Adulthood Severity of Schizotypy, Psychotic-Like Experiences, and Social Anhedonia in a Transdiagnostic Psychiatric Sample.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Previous research has linked childhood cat scratches and bites to an increased risk for depression, and childhood cat ownership to increased risk of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and social anhedonia. Our group previously reported that childhood cat bites, but not ownership, related to increased schizotypy severity in an undergraduate sample.

Methods

The current study expands this research by inquiring about cat bites and ownership in a transdiagnostic adult sample (N = 162; 51% female; mean age = 38.15, SD = 10.65), composed of schizophrenia spectrum disorders (n = 30), bipolar disorders (n = 30), unipolar depression (n = 23), and nonpsychiatric participants (n = 79). Participants completed a diagnostic interview, scales of symptom severity, and a cat interaction history interview.

Results

Across the entire sample, self-report of cat bites prior to age 13, but not after, related to greater current severity of overall schizotypy, self-reported and clinician-rated psychotic-like symptoms, and social anhedonia, when compared to individuals who reported no lifetime cat bites. Cat bites prior to age 13 did not relate to severity of depression, non-social anhedonia, or clinician-rated negative symptoms. Self-report of residing with a cat prior to age 13, or a first cat bite after age 12, did not relate to any symptom severity measure examined.

Conclusions

One theory for these findings is that an unknown infectious agent common in cat saliva interacted with brain development in childhood to increase the likelihood of these symptoms. A novel theory for the infectious agent Pasteurella multocidais discussed. Future research can examine candidate infectious agents to identify potential causal mechanisms for these relationships.

SUBMITTER: Bedwell JS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7239751 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:This study aimed to test for overlap in genetic influences between psychotic-like experience traits shown by adolescents in the community, and clinically-recognized psychiatric disorders in adulthood, specifically schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression. The full spectra of psychotic-like experience domains, both in terms of their severity and type (positive, cognitive, and negative), were assessed using self- and parent-ratings in three European community samples aged 15-19 years (Final N incl. siblings?=?6,297-10,098). A mega-genome-wide association study (mega-GWAS) for each psychotic-like experience domain was performed. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-heritability of each psychotic-like experience domain was estimated using genomic-relatedness-based restricted maximum-likelihood (GREML) and linkage disequilibrium- (LD-) score regression. Genetic overlap between specific psychotic-like experience domains and schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression was assessed using polygenic risk score (PRS) and LD-score regression. GREML returned SNP-heritability estimates of 3-9% for psychotic-like experience trait domains, with higher estimates for less skewed traits (Anhedonia, Cognitive Disorganization) than for more skewed traits (Paranoia and Hallucinations, Parent-rated Negative Symptoms). Mega-GWAS analysis identified one genome-wide significant association for Anhedonia within IDO2 but which did not replicate in an independent sample. PRS analysis revealed that the schizophrenia PRS significantly predicted all adolescent psychotic-like experience trait domains (Paranoia and Hallucinations only in non-zero scorers). The major depression PRS significantly predicted Anhedonia and Parent-rated Negative Symptoms in adolescence. Psychotic-like experiences during adolescence in the community show additive genetic effects and partly share genetic influences with clinically-recognized psychiatric disorders, specifically schizophrenia and major depression.