By: Alixandra Wilens, MA and Brian Zaboski, PhD, ABPP From Isaac Asimov’s rules of robotics to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator, humankind has long been captivated—and sometimes unnerved—by the idea of machines that can think like humans. Today, with tools like ChatGPT and DALL-E, this fascination has evolved into practical questions about how artificial intelligence (AI) can be applied in fields like mental health, and specifically in the treatment of and research on OCD. Within the context of OCD practice and research, the AI Special Interest Group (SIG) intends to address these questions and more. We hope to increase AI knowledge among individuals with OCD, researchers, and clinicians. We intend to engage in discussions of clinical applications, brainstorm research projects, and consider the balance between AI’s risks and rewards. Starting with this

By Jennifer Rose It’s no secret that there is a supply-demand crisis going on in America (and perhaps even the world), where there are more people who want to see a therapist than there are therapists available. This leads to: Months and sometimes even years-long waitlists to see a therapistNon-stop phone calls to try to see a therapist only to have most of them not return your calls or put you on a VERY long waitlistHaving to look at therapists outside of your insurance network and budgetThe person who is suffering feels defeated and that they are never going to get better This cycle of trying to locate an OCD therapist who is an expert in Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP) is made a hundred times worse compared to

The IOCDF is proud to announce the five winners of the 2024 Research Grant Awards, who received almost $700,000 in funding thanks to the grassroots support of our donors.  A record-breaking total of 98 proposals were submitted by research teams from almost 20 countries around the world. The five winning grants summarized below were selected through a highly competitive peer-review process involving a panel of 81 top researchers reviewing grants in their areas of expertise. The most highly rated projects in the first round were then subjected to a second round of scrutiny from the full committee. This year also saw the first official Topic of Interest — “Increasing Access to Treatment for All.” Although evidence-based treatments such as ERP and medications are effective, they are currently not accessible to

ORLANDO — The International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) honored the recipients of its 2024 Awards on Saturday, July 27. The IOCDF Awards recognize exceptional individuals and professionals for their dedicated efforts in advancing awareness, advocacy, and understanding of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders.  The awards were presented at IOCDF’s 29th Annual OCD Conference—a unique gathering that  brings together individuals with OCD, their families, supporters, treatment providers, and researchers for a weekend of programming, support groups, learning, and celebrations. OCD affects up to 280 million people worldwide, including 80 million kids.  “Our 2024 winners have dedicated countless personal and professional hours to help advance knowledge and raise awareness about OCD, and each have bravely shared their OCD stories with the world,” said Rebecca Deusser, executive director of the IOCDF. “We

By: Sanjaya Saxena, MD, Director of Clinical and Research Affairs, IOCDF Too often, obsessive compulsive disorder is portrayed in films, TV shows, and other media as a personality quirk. It may be shown only in the most basic of ways with limited explanation, such as someone vigorously washing their hands or tapping a door frame. Or worse, it’s used as a punchline or correlated with simply being organized.  These depictions—seen time and again by millions of viewers—are not only discouraging to those within the OCD community, but are actively harmful in that they prevent people who are experiencing true OCD symptoms to know what it is that is causing them distress and to seek appropriate care. On average, it can take more than 7 years before a person suffering from

We’re very fortunate to have two great treatments for BDD. It’s hard to believe that as recently as just a few decades ago, we didn’t know what treatments work for this common and often-severe disorder that can lead to suicide. Since then, good research studies have been done, so we now know that SRIs and CBT substantially improve BDD symptoms for most people, if they are implemented well. Read the full blog.  The post Which Works Better for Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD): Medication or Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy? appeared first on International OCD Foundation.

By Teagan Miller Hi My name is Teagan Miller and I am a 20 (almost 21) year old OCD advocate. I have lived with OCD my entire life. I often wonder what it would be like to live in a society that understood and had compassion for those living with OCD. What a dream … to feel understood, cared for, and fit in with the majority of your peers. Imagine a life like that, pure bliss. A lot of us OCD sufferers are familiar with a life with a mask on, desperately trying to combat OCD symptoms while also combating random strangers’ false assumptions about you. Let’s be honest, not very many people are aware of the comprehensive range of symptoms OCD can be responsible for. Meaning, OCD can be

By The LGBTQIA Special Interest Group There are crucial issues regarding the mental well-being of LGBTQIA+ people that urgently need to be addressed. For instance, individuals from LGBTQIA+ populations experience unique external stressors, such as stigma, discrimination, and concealment of sexual or gender identity. This leads to an increased risk for the development of mental health issues three times higher than straight people. Additionally, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services, nearly 20-30% of the LGBTQIA+ community have a diagnosed substance use disorder compared to around 9% of straight people. Also, LGBTQIA+ adults are 3x more likely to attempt suicide than straight people (US Department of Health and Human Services), and LGBTQIA+ youth are 4x more likely to attempt suicide than their straight peers (Trevor Project). Experienced

Imagine the relief of knowing your family’s important information is organized and securely stored, available whenever you or your loved ones need it. Here’s how four individuals found reassurance through Trustworthy.   Sabrina Scandar: Until a few years ago, 37-year-old product manager Sabrina Scandar wasn’t too concerned about organizing her family’s documents. That all changed when she and her husband welcomed their first child.   “I’m not sure that we had thought that much about an organization system, really, before we had kids,” Sabrina says. “And so it was random. The things we did need organized were probably in a variety of Google docs and folders, and then everything else was just in our brains.” But everything changed when she and her husband welcomed their first child and, shortly afterward,

We are deeply saddened by the loss of Patricia Perkins, one of the International OCD Foundation’s (IOCDF)  founding members. Patricia was a true pioneer in the OCD community. Her unwavering passion, sharing her lived experience, and dedication to building relationships with individuals and families were instrumental in shaping the organization, and continues to positively impact millions of lives. In the 1980s, while navigating her own challenges with obsessive compulsive disorder, Patricia participated in a clinical trial at Yale University. It was there that Dr. Wayne Goodman approached her with an idea: to create an organization that would support individuals living with OCD and their families. Patricia understood the profound need for such a resource, and her compassion and determination supported the founding of what was then known as the Obsessive