HMC Psychiatry department holds public lecture on obsessive-compulsive disorder

As part of the educational activities organized by Hamad Medical Corporation’s HMC Psychiatry Department, a public lecture on obsessive-compulsive disorder OCD is being held on Wednesday, 23 May, 2012 from 06:00 pm to 07:00 pm. The lecture will be delivered by Dr. Hazem Hashem, senior consultant psychiatrist at Hamad Medical Corporation HMC, in the Psychiatry Department located opposite The Center and Mega Mart and next to the Kahramaa office.

OCD is an anxiety disorder in which people have unwanted and repeated thoughts, feelings, ideas, sensations obsessions, or behaviors that make them feel driven to do something compulsions. The lecture explains the symptoms of OCD, their effect on patients, their families and friends, as well as various treatment practices and latest updates in the field.

“About 2% of world population suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder OCD. This rate may increase in Arab communities due to social and religious restrictions. Symptoms and signs of this disease normally appear at the end of the adolescence stage and can progress with age. OCD patients comprise about 10% of the total visitors of psychiatry clinics” said Dr. Hazem Hashem.

“OCD is often a very debilitating disease as individuals who experience uncontrollable obsessions can spend a lot of their time trying to rectify their compulsions which causes more anxiety” explained Dr. Hazem, adding: “Most OCD patients feel that they are alone in dealing with their problem and do not consider seeking treatment; they continue to suffer from the disease for five years or even more before consulting a psychiatrist. However, statistics show that 70% of patients who seek treatment can expect to make a complete recovery”.

Dr. Hazem will respond to questions from attendees and members of staff will be able to provide information to the visiting public in different languages.

HMC’s Psychiatry Department offers these lectures as part of its mandate to offer public education on different mental health illnesses and treatment options.