Two books that can be extremely helpful to parents are reviewed below.  By clicking on the title you can learn more about the book or purchase it from Amazon.com.

Freeing Your Child from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Powerful, Practical Program for Parents of Children and Adolescents

If you're a parent of one of the more than one million children in this country with obsessive-compulsive disorder, you know how confusing, even frightening, the symptoms of OCD can be. You're terrified of losing your child and angry about the havoc this disorder has wreaked in your family. More than anything, you want to be able to unlock the secrets of OCD, understand the cause of your child's bizarre symptoms, and help your child break free of these disruptive, relentless thoughts and actions.

In her landmark book, Freeing Your Child from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Dr. Tamar E. Chansky creates a clear road map to understanding and overcoming OCD based on her successful practice treating hundreds of children and teenagers with this disorder. In Part I, Dr. Chansky "cracks the code" of the peculiar rules and customs of OCD -- the handwashing, tapping, counting, and so forth. She explains how OCD is diagnosed, how to find the right therapist partner, and how to tailor treatment options to your child's needs. You'll learn how powerful behavioral modification can be and when medication can help. In Part II, you'll learn how not to be pulled in by your child's debilitating rituals at home or at school, how to talk to your child about the "brain tricks" OCD causes, and how to create an effective OCD battle plan that will empower your child to "boss back" the OCD monster. You'll also learn how to cope in moments of crisis.

Part III offers specific advice for how to help your child handle the most common manifestations of OCD such as fears of contamination, checking, getting things "just right," intrusive thoughts, and more. Part IV is an indispensable guide to additional resources, including books, videos, organizations, and websites.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder : Help for Children and Adolescents (Patient-Centered Guides)

The author, Mitzi Waltz,  presents a superior guide on this complex neurological illness, with thorough and thoughtful attention to every subtopic imaginable: causes; consequences; diagnosis (including rare conditions and related disorders); therapeutic, medical, and alternative intervention; insurance issues; schooling; and transitions. Each chapter reads easily as it unravels the intricacies associated with OCD, but never sacrifices detail. Most helpful are Waltz's comprehensive list of medications (including generic names, side effects, known interaction hazards, and special tips), her critical chapter on the turbulent school years, and the resource section that includes the Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale for assessing symptoms. Herself the mother of two children diagnosed with OCD, Waltz speaks candidly, empowering parents to make critical choices for their child's treatment and to employ successful coping skills for daily living. Her opinions--and those quoted from parents traveling the same road--offer additional, firsthand knowledge that smartly supports each topic.

Additional Resources

National DMDA (National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association)

NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill)

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder In Children: The Silent Tragedy from NAMI

Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation

The Anxiety Disorders Education Program, National Institute of Mental Health
6001 Executive Blvd.
Room 8184, MSC 9663
Bethesda, MD 20892-9663   Or call 1-888-826-9438 (toll free)

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