OCD Awareness Week: Patient Resources and Education

International OCD Awareness (IOCDA) Week takes place from October 14 to 20, 2013. According to the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), OCD is present in approximately 1 in 100 adults and in up to 1 in 200 children. The IOCDA website states that “OCD Awareness Week is an international effort to raise awareness and understanding about OCD and related disorders, with the goal of helping more people to get timely access to appropriate and effective treatment. Launched in 2009 by the IOCDF, OCD Awareness Week is now celebrated by a number of organizations across the US and around the world, with events such as OCD screening days, lectures, conferences, fundraisers, online Q&As, and more.”

One such organization is Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders, which will provide in-person screenings to the public to kick off the week. “OCD is a debilitating illness but the good news is treatment is available,” said Helen Blair Simpson, MD, PhD, Director of the Clinic and the Center for OCD and Related Disorders at Columbia Psychiatry.

These screenings are free and available on a walk-in basis and are open to both adults and children.

Times and place for in-person screenings

CUCARD-The Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders
3 Columbus Circle, Suite 601, New York, NY 10019
Wednesday, October 16, 10:00AM - 2:00PM and
Friday, October 18, 1:00PM - 5:00PM

On-demand phone screenings

Available to anyone who calls 212-543-5367 during the following times:
Tuesday, October 15, 10:00AM - 2:00PM
Thursday, October 17, 10:00AM - 3:00PM

In addition, the university is available to conduct free and confidential screenings by appointment. These can be scheduled Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) during regular business hours and can be in-person or by phone. To schedule an appointment, call 212-543-5462 for adults or 212-543-5592 for children and teens.

Additional information about OCD treatment at Columbia
Adults (http://www.columbia-ocd.org/)
Children (http://www.columbiapsychiatry.org/pamrc)

Expert commentary

Throughout the month of October, experts at Columbia will also lead a series of talks on BlogTalkRadio, discussing diagnosis, new treatments, and resources for adults and children with OCD.

Beginning October 1 and every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:00 – 3:30 PM EST, patients and their families and mental health professionals are invited to join a talk by calling 347-996-5875 or going to the Columbia Psychiatry page at BlogTalkRadio. The first talk (below) was co-led by Dr Simpson, whose paper in the September issue of JAMA proposed new treatment recommendations for OCD.

New Psychology Podcasts

with

Columbia Psychiatry NYSPI

on BlogTalkRadio

For further information, see a related video by H. Blair Simpson, MD, PhD.