Information Guide

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a severe and debilitating anxiety disorder that affects one person in 40. It affects not only how people feel or think, but also how they behave. OCD symptoms -- such as compulsive hoarding or handwashing -- often evoke uncomfortable emotions in family and friends. This guide discusses: what OCD is and what causes it treatments, including both cognitive and behavioural therapy and medication recovery and relapse prevention family involvement The guide is a thorough and helpful introduction for people with OCD, their family and friends.

This guide explores the difference between normal anxiety and anxiety disorders, and the different ways that anxiety is expressed. It explains the causes and theories of anxiety in simple, straightforward language, and gives an overview of treatments. The guide also looks at long-term strategies to manage anxiety and prevent relapse, and suggests ways that family members can help, as well as finding support for themselves.