Establishing a Pediatric Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Research Network

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a common, serious and under-recognized illness affecting nearly one Canadian child in every two classrooms. These children repeatedly experience unwanted thoughts and perform behaviours that cause significant distress, time loss and functional impairment. OCD is identified as a leading international cause of non-fatal illness burden. In youth, ongoing OCD disrupts crucial aspects of development to the same degree as adolescent psychoses. However, access to proper diagnosis and treatment within the health care system are often delayed for several years, which decreases chances of improvement. We propose to create the first formal Canadian national network dedicated to research on Pediatric OCD. Our central aim is to bring together researchers, affected patients and families, their care providers, and health system decision-makers. Over the course of three main planning activities at provincial, national and international levels this network of researchers and knowledge users will set priorities and develop a research plan to improve understanding and care of Pediatric OCD in Canada. The network will then actively seek funding to support this research and knowledge translation plan from CIHR and other relevant funders.