About:
The International OCD Foundation brings together mental health professionals and individuals from diverse backgrounds that share a common interest to participate in OCD and related disorder discussions, networking, education, resource development, and/or research. Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are developed to cultivate purposeful initiatives that support and advance IOCDF’s mission to help those affected by OCD and related disorders. SIGs operate semi-independently and vary in content, structure, and activity level.
Join a Group:
To join a Special Interest Group (SIG), please use the contact information provided in each SIG listing. If you have additional questions, please email sigs@iocdf.org
The mission of this SIG is to increase understanding and use of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) as an evidenced-based approach in the treatment of individuals who suffer from OCD and related disorders.
Artificial Intelligence Special Interest Group
The rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has come with impressive applications and ethical considerations warranting proactive discussion among therapists and researchers.
The mission of the Artificial Intelligence SIG is to discuss and disseminate accurate knowledge about AI, machine learning, and deep learning as they relate to the science and evidence-based treatment of individuals with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive and related disorders (OCRDs).
This SIG is comprised of professional therapists, researchers, and graduate students interested in AI, its applications, and its ethical ramifications within the context of OCRDs and exposure therapy.
Leadership
Brian A. Zaboski, Ph.D
Primary Objectives
- Increase broader understanding of AI among specialists in OCD and anxiety disorders.
- Discuss AI and its clinical research applications for anxiety, OCRDs, and related conditions.
- Engage with families and individuals with lived experience about the clinical applications, research prospects, and risks associated with AI.
- Contribute to broader discussions on AI and mental health through conferences, manuscripts, and advocacy.
Planned Activities and Initiatives
- Hold quarterly meetings for SIG members to discuss advances in AI.
- Submit an annual poster on AI to IOCDF’s Research Symposium.
- Hold SIG meeting at the annual IOCDF conference.
- Disseminate knowledge about the research applications of AI through IOCDF blog posts and newsletters to foster new avenues of research among non-SIG members.
Want to Join the AI SIG?
This group is open to professionals: post-graduate mental health clinicians, researchers (PhD), and doctoral research students. If you are interested in joining, please complete this interest form to receive meeting information and updates. If you have questions, please email sigs@iocdf.org.
The group is composed of Professionals who have expertise in treating OCD and express an interest in Autism as well as treating OCD in these patients. We also welcome those with lived experiences, including people with autism, family and caregivers.
The BDD Special Interest Group is dedicated to advancing knowledge and disseminating information about body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) to professionals, people with BDD and their family members, and the public.
The BFRB SIG aims to increase awareness and understanding of Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs) within both the professional and lived experience communities of the IOCDF. This SIG provides a safe space for professionals to discuss conceptualization, clinical interventions, and research topics, while also inviting individuals with lived experience to guide and inform these discussions. The goal is to improve the conceptualization and treatment of BFRBs through collaboration. Monthly meetings will be held for professionals, with biannual meetings including individuals with lived experience, to discuss cases, treatment approaches, and community needs. This group will also inform future research and encourage more professionals to train in BFRB treatment.
Having OCD is hard. Having a chronic illness/disability is hard. Having them both? Really hard! In this Special Interest Group, we get it! This is for individuals with a chronic illness/disability and OCD who are looking to find community and support, as well as those who are interested in creating resources and working to increase awareness around these comorbid conditions. Additionally, the SIG is open to professionals who are looking to gain a better understanding of successful treatment practices for those with chronic illness/disability and OCD.
The Creative Expression Special Interest Group is composed of individuals with lived experience, loved ones and advocates who encourage collaboration, a sense of community and apply their creative skills to support and serve the needs of those in the OCD and related disorders community. This SIG helps cultivate purposeful initiatives and resources that advance the IOCDF’s mission. If you love forms of artistic expression- art, music, film, writing, acting, and have a desire to use your talents to create new resources, help organize and contribute artistic content at conferences, special events and celebrate OCD Awareness Week, please join the group!
This special interest group was created with the purpose of addressing the significant comorbidity between eating disorders and OCD, as well as the most up-to-date research in the field, clinical implications, education, training, and the possibility for mentorship relationships. This group is open to professionals as well as community members with a similar interest or experiencing this comorbidity of symptom presentations.
This group is designed specifically for individuals of ALL religious traditions to share their experiences with OCD, as well as ways this has impacted their connection to a faith community.
This group is designed for those with OCD or a related disorder and in a profession of helping others such as an educator, clergy, healthcare professional, or first responder with the desire to create a community and resources for navigating OCD while serving in these roles.
Hoarding Disorder and OCD Special Interest Group is dedicated to promoting knowledge sharing of resources, best practices, and current research for Hoarding Disorder for professionals, people with lived experience and the public, with the goal of improving access to effective and compassionate treatment and care.
The mission of the Inference-based CBT (I-CBT) Special Interest Group is to increase awareness, understanding, and usage of I-CBT as an evidence-based treatment for OCD.
This SIG is composed of clinicians and researchers who are actively using, learning, or researching I-CBT as a treatment for OCD and related disorders.
The LGBTQIA+ Special Interest Group is dedicated to building a community for LGBTQIA+-identifying OCD clinicians, researchers, educators, and people with lived experience. It has the goal of improving access to affirming, evidence-based treatment for LGBTQIA+ individuals with OCD.
We believe Mothers with OCD are currently underserved within the community. Mothers with OCD face increased amounts of stigma and shame around their intrusive thoughts. Many mothers with OCD endure suffering in isolation rather than seeking help due to their fears of repercussions from disclosing such as having their children taken or involuntary institutionalization. Mothers attempting to access treatment often face dismissal, disbelief or overreaction in response to their obsessions.
As mothers with OCD, we are passionate about utilizing our lived experience to assemble a strong network of like-minded Moms to foster community, destigmatize OCD in mothers, and collaborate with professionals and advocates to raise awareness about the unique challenges Moms with OCD face.
This SIG is designed to build relationships and foster collaboration among students and trainees, to seasoned professionals at all levels in their careers in the fields of OCD, anxiety, and related disorders.
This is a space for information on/for the Special Interest Group (SIG) for OCD/SUD community. This includes those with OCD/SUD, those who provide treatment, researchers, and those who are in their lives – family and friends. We share resources, work to increase awareness and advocate for concurrent treatment. Most of all we want those with OCD & SUD to know they are not alone and recovery is possible.
The goal of the SIG is to develop a community of mental health providers who have a shared understanding of the unique challenges that may be present when working within the mental health/medical field while carrying your own personal experiences (current or past) with OCD/OC Spectrum disorders.
The Tic Disorders in OCD Special Interest Group includes advocates, educators, clinicians/researchers, and individuals with OCD and co-occurring Tourette Syndrome (TS) or other tic disorders (TD). Our group is designed to foster discussion, collect and disseminate educational information, and offer networking
opportunities and research insights. Our intent is to provide a supportive, informed and evidence-based space where people can gain insight, access empirically supported resources, and remain informed about this growing but under-represented population.
The Trauma & PTSD in OCD Special Interest Group is comprised of professionals and people with lived experience with trauma, OCD, and PTSD. This group is dedicated to advancing knowledge and disseminating information about trauma, OCD, and PTSD to other professionals, people with lived experience, families and supports, and the public. We aim to provide a compassionate, supportive, evidence-based environment in which people who are passionate about effective treatment for individuals with trauma, OCD, and PTSD can access resources and remain informed about this growing body of research and clinical practice.
This SIG aims to provide a safe place to share lived experiences and the unique challenges faced by individuals 50 years and older living with OCD. We intend to bring voices and wisdom to the table, as an additional opportunity to develop understanding and bring resources to the OCD community as a whole.
Young adulthood is a unique period in a person's life, a period defined by one thing: change. For practically every young adult, all the twists and turns of this period are hard...and OCD doesn't make it any easier. We know because we're going through it too. This group is composed of young adults with OCD from across the world all navigating the similar challenges and here to encourage each other!
Start A Special Interest Group:
Individuals interested in starting a SIG must submit a description of the proposed group along with evidence of significant interest from the OCD and related disorder community. The description should include the primary objectives and the purpose of forming a group around a specific target audience or topic. New group proposals need to be clearly distinct from areas already covered by established SIGs.
Due to the evidence-based nature of the IOCDF, all SIGs must have at least one mental health professional member. Submissions will be reviewed by IOCDF staff and approved by the Executive Director. Review our SIG program guidelines here.
