Message de la Présidente

Posted by .

Message from the President

Dr. Debbie Sookman

The Canadian Institute for Obsessive Compulsive Disorders

 
 
August 19, 2011. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is disabling for sufferers and heart breaking for loved ones. In my work with severely symptomatic children, adolescents, and adults – referred for specialized treatment from local, national, and international sources – it has been my experience that some sufferers are erroneously labeled as “treatment resistant” without ever having received best practice specialty interventions. The need for dissemination of expertise and increased resources in this field is urgent . I established The Canadian Institute for Obsessive Compulsive Disorders (CIOCD) to advance empirically based, best practice specialty treatment across Canada for OCD and spectrum disorders through the life span. The Institute’s mandate also includes advancement of scientific research designed to improve clinical practice. The CIOCD Affiliate Outreach Educational Program will include representation from every Canadian province. Information required to make informed treatment choices will be made available to OCD sufferers including to those living in remote rural areas.

The Institute’s OCD Specialty Training and Accreditation Program will be made available to mental health clinicians, supervisors, and treatment centers. The aim of this program is to increase the number of clinicians credentialed to treat OCD. Canadian accreditation criteria will be established to be adopted internationally.

Establishment of The Canadian Institute for Obsessive Compulsive Disorders has been a longstanding vision. I look forward to collaborating with national and international colleagues, organizations, visionary leaders in the community, and members of the public to realize the essential CIOCD mandates.

Debbie Sookman, Ph.D.

President

The Canadian Institute for Obsessive Compulsive Disorders

Contact:
president@CIOCD.ca
debbie.sookman@mcgill.ca
Biographical Sketch