University Times

The obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) intensive outpatient program for children and adolescents at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic (WPIC) has been awarded the 2008 Treatment of Mental Illness and Recovery Support Services Award from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

This national award recognizes exemplary interventions that have been shown to prevent and/or treat mental illnesses and substance abuse.

WPIC launched the intensive outpatient program for kids with OCD in 2005, one of only a few such programs in the country.

The clinic is a comprehensive treatment facility, specializing in providing group and individual psychotherapy, education, family therapy, school-liaison services and pharmacotherapy for children, adolescents and families who are dealing with OCD.

WPIC has developed an integrative and translational program that combines evidence-based treatments for children and families with careful symptom assessment and monitoring, and research aimed at understanding the biological causes of OCD.  

Andrew R. Gilbert, medical director of the OCD treatment program at WPIC, said: “Our results show a 65 percent reduction in overall OCD symptom severity from intake to discharge, which suggests that these evidence-based treatments lead to important symptom improvement in children and teens.”