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Pioneering Child Psychiatrist Dr. Judith Rapoport Passes Away at 92

3/29/2026

26 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Dr. Judith L. Rapoport, a prominent child psychiatrist, died March 7 in Washington, D.C., at age 92 from lung cancer.
Rapoport's 1989 book The Boy Who Couldn't Stop Washing raised awareness of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Her research showed OCD affects 1 to 3 percent of the population and has a neurological basis.
Her work led to the FDA's approval of Anafranil, the first medication for OCD.

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Story summary

Dr. Judith L. Rapoport, a prominent child psychiatrist, died March 7 in Washington, D.C., at age 92 from lung cancer.
Rapoport's 1989 book The Boy Who Couldn't Stop Washing raised awareness of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Her research showed OCD affects 1 to 3 percent of the population and has a neurological basis.
Her work led to the FDA's approval of Anafranil, the first medication for OCD.