Rat contact, perhaps, but that would make NYC the schizo capital of the world (which, believe it not, it is not).
Pregnant women used to be warned to stay away from cat litter boxes, for fear of the toxoplasmosis. Could schizophrenia (in some cases) be a result of prenatal exposure?
What is the schizo capital? Truly, I'd've guessed NYC.
Maybe.
But I recall an earlier study that showed increased reckless behavior in adults newly infected with the disease.
Men (tended to) become anti-social recluses
Women (tended to) become slutty.
It went away as the body defeated the organism -- which did infect nerves.
Most kids get this BTW (sand boxes), it's the rare adult who does not have anti-bodies.
The symptoms are flulike and go away.
Only infants/babies is it a real problem (blindness).