French Association of People Suffering from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

The Association Française de Personnes souffrant de Troubles Obsessionnels et Compulsifs (AFTOC) is a French non-profit association (association loi 1901) created in 1992 by a former patient, Marc Lalvée. It is entirely run by volunteers and focuses on obsessive-compulsive disorder (TOC in French, OCD in English) in France and in a few foreign countries. Initially named AFTOC-Tourette because OCD is sometimes linked to Gilles de La Tourette syndrome, it was restructured under the simpler name AFTOC in 1997. The association brings together patients, former patients, families and relatives, as well as sympathetic doctors and psychologists. AFTOC's core activities include providing information to patients and their families, organizing support and discussion groups (groupes de parole) in person or remotely, informing the public and the medical profession about OCD, and promoting research. It also represents users in health institutions, such as the Commission des Relations avec les Usagers et de la qualité de la Prise en Charge (CRUQPC) and the Comité de Protection des Personnes (CPP). The association is a member of the board of CISS-IDF (Collectif Interassociatif sur la Santé – Ile de France) and participates in ANSM/Associations working groups. Since 2007, AFTOC has held national accreditation (agrément) from the French Ministry of Health, renewed in 2012 and 2017, which gives it the status of an association of general interest and allows it to represent users in the health system. In 2017 it became a partner of the International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation (IOCD). The association publishes a quarterly magazine, Le défi émotionnel, and has been present at the Mad Pride since 2014. It currently has around 500 members, a decline from a peak of about 1,500 in the late 1990s. The current president is Eric Wynckel (since 2022).

AFTOC was founded in 1992 by Marc Lalvée, a former patient, initially under the name AFTOC-Tourette. The choice of name reflected the fact that OCD and Gilles de La Tourette syndrome are sometimes linked, and some people with Tourette syndrome also suffer from OCD. At the time, OCD was little known to the general public in France; media coverage was scarce and many patients remained undiagnosed for years, sometimes living with the disorder for 10, 20 or even 40 years without knowing its nature. The creation of AFTOC echoed the founding in the United States in 1986 of the IOCD Foundation. The association was restructured under the simpler name AFTOC in 1997. From 2000 to 2005, it disseminated information about OCD, sometimes through national media. In 2007, AFTOC obtained national accreditation (agrément) from the French Ministry of Health for the first time, for a period of five years. This accreditation gave it the status of an association of general interest, allowing it to represent users in health bodies and to advocate for better care. The accreditation was renewed in 2012 under number N2012RN0078, and again for five years in 2017 under number N2017RN0053. Between 2007 and 2017, while continuing its information activities and support groups, AFTOC participated in several representative bodies when possible: the Comité de Protection des Personnes (CPP) and ANSM/Associations working groups. In 2017, the association became a partner of the International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation (IOCD). It has also been present at the Mad Pride since 2014 and relays the actions of the Semaine d'Information sur la Santé Mentale (SISM). AFTOC is run entirely by volunteers. Its membership peaked at around 1,500 people between 1998 and 2000, but has since declined to about 500 members, with 32 active members in 2017. The current president is Eric Wynckel, in office since 2022. The association publishes a quarterly magazine, Le défi émotionnel, of 8 to 16 pages, covering the life of the association and providing varied information on OCD (testimonials, explanations, etc.).

• 2022

  Eric Wynckel becomes president.

• 2017

  Accreditation renewed for five years under number N2017RN0053; becomes partner of the International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation (IOCD).

• 2014

  AFTOC begins participating in the Mad Pride.

• 2012

  Accreditation renewed under number N2012RN0078.

• 2007

  First national accreditation (agrément) from the French Ministry of Health, for five years.

• 2000

  Start of a period (2000–2005) of active information dissemination about OCD, sometimes via national media.

• 1997

  Association restructured under the simpler name AFTOC.

• 1992

  AFTOC founded by Marc Lalvée under the name AFTOC-Tourette.

Patient-led mutual aid and advocacy association for OCD, complementing medical treatment and representing users in the French health system.

• Groupes de parole (support groups)

  Regular meetings led by volunteers to foster exchange among people directly or indirectly affected by OCD. Participants may listen or speak, and may participate anonymously.

• Le défi émotionnel

  Quarterly magazine of 8 to 16 pages covering the life of the association and providing varied information on OCD (testimonials, explanations, etc.).

• Free anonymous telephone service

  A free and anonymous telephone service to listen, advise and reassure, and to orient callers to a support group.

1. 1Accueil - AFTOCaftoc.org
2. 2Notre histoire - AFTOCaftoc.org
3. 3Association française de personnes souffrant de troubles obsessionnels compulsifsfr.wikipedia.org
4. 4Association française de personnes souffrant de troubles obsessionnels compulsifswikidata.org