Psychiatric Manifestations of MCAS with Dr. Janet Settle as part of the Mast Cell Matters series

In this episode of the Mast Cell Matters podcast, Dr. Janet Settle, an integrative psychiatrist, discusses the link between psychiatric symptoms and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). She describes how MCAS may manifest as episodic psychiatric conditions such as anxiety, depression, bipolar type II disorder, and others. Dr. Settle highlights the lack of awareness in psychiatry about the role of mast cells in these mental health disorders due to historical gaps in research. She explains the complex interactions between mast cells and neurochemicals, particularly how they reside at interfaces such as the blood-brain barrier, potentially influencing brain functions and emotional states. Dr. Settle advocates for treating MCAS to stabilize psychiatric symptoms and suggests integrative approaches that combine psychiatric medications, MCAS treatments, and cognitive therapies like limbic retraining. She stresses the importance of recognizing MCAS even when traditional lab testing may not confirm it, relying instead on clinical observation and patient history. Dr. Settle concludes with a call for more integration of knowledge in the medical community to better address these conditions.