Hello,

I'm curious to learn if the incidence of major mental illness (e.g., bipolar, schizophrenia) is higher in families of people with mast cell disorders.

My brother has schizophrenia.  I have now met three people with a mast cell disorder and they all have family members with major mental health disorders.  I'm curious to see if there are others.

Thanks,
Larken

Hi Larken

Although mast cells are in the brain and that they do release mediators there, in the brain, very little study has been done as to mast cells, the mediator release and mental illness.  They do know that we masto patients have neurological symptoms and activity and they have even named is as Mixed Organic Brain Syndrome, but no studies have beem made other than into that of autism which has been able to even come close to tying the mast cell or mediator release other than serotonins and histamines as to neurological symptoms.  So, therefore, there is no proof to tie mental ilness to mast cell mediator release and nothing to say that mastocytosis in itself is involved in mental illness.   Until the researchers begin to study the role of the mast cell itself = the normal mast cell, and it's involvement in neurological dysfunctions they can't really blame that of mastocytosis the disease as to causing these problems.  Other than autism, which has been seen to be more elevated amongst mastocytosis patients, there is nothing else considered related.   They do know that we are very seriously affected by both the mast cells and their mediator release, but that's about it.

I say this because I recently underwent a neurological evaluation into epilepsy as a cause for my fainting - they thought it might be seizures.  Dr. Castells gave me some understanding as to this.  This is why although you may have found some coincidentals, until they can study masto patients as to their specific neurological behavior and specifically study masto patients who are schizophrenic, there won't be anything known about it.  It would be considered a co-morbid situation.

I hope this helps.

Lisa

Hi Lisa ,

well put , Thanks I think my mother may fit into the autism category . She has aspergers ( middle of the autism scale )  i am working on some paperwork for use with autistic / learning disabilites in children and adults with mast cell diasease
To aid documentation and understanding on all sides .

Joan , i understand I think we have all felt that to some degree Esp when doc's are , in the absence of anything useful on constructive , making you question yourself

Hugs
Josie

Ha, yes, I FEEL mentally ill whenever I get a flare of symptoms.  Chocolate, for one, makes me feel totally crazy!

Thanks for the comments.  Josie, that's very interesting about your family history. I can relate. My father is a life-long alcoholic.  

Just to clarify, it's not that I think schizophrenia and bipolar are the same as mastocytosis.  But, I wonder if there is a connection with the inability to regulate mediators released by mast cells or some other connection to the blood brain barrier.  I wanted to ask the question on here to see if, like autism, there was an unusually high co-morbidity (most likely others have asked this question before, but maybe not?).

I had seen the studies by Dr Theoharides on the connections between autism, masto and the break down of the blood-brain barrier.  It's quite interesting!  Here is a great video explanation of how his research to date ties together:

http://www.autismone.org/content/mast-cells-disrupt-gut-blood-brain-barriers-and...

I have also seen some of the studies on H3 and schizophrenia. I'll continue to follow that, too.  My brother is not on any meds that control histamine, so this is a new avenue of treatment for him.  He's been fairly resistant to meds so far, unfortunately.  

Larken