Webinar: Thinking about ARFID and MCAS for thoughtful GPs with Dr Karen Spielman
- Date: Tuesday 27th October 2026
- Time: 7:30pm – 9:00pm AEST
- Venue: Online via Zoom
- Contact Phone: (08) 7557 9556
- Contact Email: education@aspm.org.au
Session overview:
Join Dr Karen Spielman for an engaging exploration of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) and the frequently co-occurring Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS).
This session will explore these two curious and often overlapping conditions, including how they can present alongside eating disorders and disordered eating. Karen will explain the key features of ARFID and MCAS and use clinical cases to illustrate their presentation, overlap and complexities in practice. With a focus on sharing insights and encouraging discussion, this intriguing session will challenge participants to consider these conditions from a different perspective — once you start seeing them, you may never look at them quite the same way again!
Learning outcomes:
- Recognise the key clinical and psychological features of ARFID and MCAS, including their impact on food avoidance and restrictive eating.
- Apply a biopsychosocial approach to assessing patients with food-related symptoms, restrictive eating and anxiety.
- Identify practical strategies to support patients experiencing diagnostic uncertainty, food avoidance and distress, including validation, psychoeducation and collaborative care.
Costs:
Members – FREE
Non-members – $50