The Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) is the only U.S. nonprofit organization solely dedicated to increasing awareness and improving the diagnosis, treatment, and cure of anxiety disorders in children and adults. The Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) is the leader in education, training, and research for anxiety and stress-related disorders. The mission statement of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) is to promote the prevention, treatment, and cure of anxiety and stress-related disorders through advocacy, education, training, and research[1].
Forty million U.S. adults, or one in six adults, suffer from an anxiety disorder[2], and anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses in adults and children. The six anxiety disorders are generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety disorder (social phobia), panic disorder, and specific phobias.
ADAA offers free educational information and resources about anxiety disorders, local treatment provider referrals, self-help groups, self-tests, clinical trial listings, and more. ADAA promotes the message that anxiety disorders are real, serious, and treatable.
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Founded in 1980 as the Phobia Society of America by a diverse group of clinicians and patients, ADAA changed its name 10 years later to better reflect the distinct anxiety disorders that more sophisticated research had identified. The organization continues to serve clinicians, researchers, and consumers from its Silver Spring, Md., headquarters by funding cutting-edge scientific research through grants and awards and by promoting awareness to remind Americans that anxiety disorders are real and treatable.
ADAA is guided by a board of directors, scientific advisory board, and clinical advisory board and is supported through donations. The association also holds an annual conference that is the only professional meeting to focus on the science and treatment of anxiety and anxiety-related disorders in children and adults. ADAA also publishes self-help books such as "Facing Panic," "Triumph Over Shyness: Conquering Social Anxiety Disorder," and informational brochures that are available exclusively through its website.
In spring 2008, ADAA launched "Treat It, Don't Repeat It: Break Free From OCD," a national educational campaign about obsessive-compulsive disorder. The campaign included public service announcements featuring Howie Mandel, host of "Deal or No Deal;" Tony Shalhoub, star of the award-winning TV Series "Monk" about a detective with OCD; and David Hoberman, co-creator and executive producer of "Monk."
On January 7 2010, Jerilyn Ross, the President, CEO, and one of the founders of ADAA died or neuroendocrine cancer at the age of 63. A few of her awards include the 2004 Patient Advocacy Award from the American Psychiatric Association, the 2001 Anxiety Disorder Initiative Award from the World Council on Anxiety and the World Psychiatric Association, a 200 Telly Award, and a 1994 Distinguished Humanitarian Award from the American Association of Applied and Preventive Psychology.
ADAA helps promote professional and public awareness of anxiety as well as other related disorders. It also explain the impact of these disorders on people's lives so that is easy to read for everyone from school counselors to K-12 teachers. It encourages the advancement of scientific knowledge about causes and treatment of anxiety and related disorders. It also links people who need treatment with the health care professionals who provide it, as well as helps people find appropriate treatment and develop self-help skills so that people can get the treatment that they need. ADAA works to reduce the stigma surrounding anxiety and related disorders.
As supporting research is a critical part of their mission, ADAA has funded more than $1 million to 215 anxiety disorders researchers since developing the awards program in 1999. In 2009, ADAA supported 11 anxiety disorders researchers through their Career Development Travel Awards given to early career professionals with a research interest in anxiety and anxiety-related disorders such as basic and clinical neurobiology and psychopharmacology, clinical psychology,genetics, neuroimaging, epidemiology, and public health. [3]