21st Annual OCD Conference Brings Awareness and Leading Research to West Coast

Los Angeles Welcomes Largest International Conference 

on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

LOS ANGELES, June 10, 2014– The International OCD Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and related disorders live full and productive lives, announced today that the 21st Annual OCD Conference will be held in Los Angeles from July 18-20, 2014.  The OCD conference is a place for those affected by OCD and related disorders to learn about treatment among a community of people with OCD, their loved ones, and mental health professionals.  Taking place at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Century City, CA, the conference expects to welcome more than 1,200 kids, teens, adults, families, research experts, and mental health professionals.

“OCD is a mental disorder often overlooked by society, leaving many to figure out how to cope with the challenges of this often debilitating condition on their own,” said Jeff Szymanski, PhD, executive director of the International OCD Foundation. “Our goal with this year’s conference is to not only shed light on the gravity of OCD, but also cultivate hope among the OCD community by giving people tools to find effective treatment, and showcasing stories of people who have fought this battle and overcome the disorder.”

The International OCD Foundation has prepared an impressive line-up of events for this year’s conference.

  • Guests will be able to choose among more than 100 presentations, workshops and seminars, and over two dozen support groups and other networking events.  They will hear about the latest treatment techniques from leading clinicians and researchers in the mental health field such as Dr. Barbara Van Noppen’s work on OCD in families, Dr. John Piaccentini’s research in pediatric OCD, and Dr. Evelyn Stewart’s research on the genetics of OCD.  Attendees will also listen to families and individuals sharing their personal stories of how OCD, body dysmorphic disorder, hoarding disorder, and other related disorders have affected their lives and their stories of recovery. The conference features more than 10 tracks, including special interest programs for body dysmorphic disorder, young adults, hoarding disorder, PANDAS/PANS and a one-day track conducted entirely in Spanish for those that speak Spanish as a first-language.
  • The weekend conference will include activities for the entire family, including kids art therapy, yoga, ping-pong, and karaoke.  Attendees will also be entertained by events including The Second City’s Improv for Anxiety interactive workshop. Festivities will culminate in a Saturday Night Social, which will be an evening of food, fun, and dancing, and an opportunity to honor comedian Maria Bamford as the International OCD Foundation’s first Illumination Award recipient.

The Foundation will also present Dr. Steve Rasmussen with the IOCDF Career Achievement Award, Wendy Mueller with the Patricia Perkins Service Award, and Margaret Sisson with the IOCDF Hero Award, for their achievements and service to the IOCDF and the OCD community.

The 21st Annual OCD Conference is the only international gathering solely devoted to spreading awareness, fostering support, and identifying treatment solutions for OCD and related disorders.

About the International OCD Foundation
The mission of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) is to help individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) to live full and productive lives. Our aim is to increase access to effective treatment, end the stigma associated with mental health issues, and foster a community for those affected by OCD and the professionals who treat them.

Based in Boston, the IOCDF has affiliates in 22 states and territories, as well as 9 Global Partners. The IOCDF was founded as the Obsessive Compulsive Foundation in 1986. Now in its 27th year, the organization has an over $1.5 million annual operating budget, has granted millions of dollars for OCD research, and is a vital resource for the estimated 1 in 100 individuals with OCD around the world. For more information, visit https://iocdf.org.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Carly Bourne
Director of Communications, International OCD Foundation
cbourne@iocdf.org
617-973-5801