OCD A guide for the newly diagnosed

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can cause frightening and often misunderstood symptoms, and there's often a long delay between onset and diagnosis. Tompkins (psychology, Univ. of California, Berkeley; Digging Out: Helping Your Loved One Manage Clutter, Hoarding, and Compulsive Acquiring) provides patients with a resource that will not only help them understand their diagnosis but also give them the tools they need to find a health-care team and work to manage their condition effectively. Tompkins begins with an overview of OCD and explains common types of obsessions and compulsions. He also reviews the diagnostic process, treatment options, support, and recovery. Aimed at newly diagnosed adults, the book is clear and easy to read. Tompkins intersperses patient vignettes throughout, which show how OCD can affect the lives of patients and those around them. The book also includes a list of resources, but it provides little information about children diagnosed with OCD. VERDICT Recommended for adults newly diagnosed with OCD, their family members, and friends.-Dana Ladd, Community Health Education Ctr. & Virginia Commonwealth Univ. Libs., Richmond (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.