Research

Current Research and Service Development Projects:

• Validation of Screening Tools for Depression & Anxiety in Pregnant Arabic Speaking Women: Sociocultural Correlates and Considerations. Dr. Sawssan Ahmed, clinical psychologist, is leading this team studying the cultural appropriateness of screening tools of depression and anxiety for pregnant Arabic speaking women.

• Safia Ahmed, our clinical nurse lead, is working with other team members and obstetric clinicians, to implement screening for signs of stress, anxiety, and depression in pregnant women. Four simple questions asked by the nurse or midwife will help obstetric doctors identify early signs of anxiety or depression, giving the opportunity for women to receive support and treatment for these difficulties during pregnancy.
• Dominique, a midwife in the postnatal units with a special interest in perinatal mental health, is leading a postpartum project in partnership with postnatal services and perinatal mental health using the “Mother’s Experience Survey” (Zanetti, 2017). This survey will help the postnatal care team to identify and assist women prior to discharge in receiving support and assistance for concerns related to their birth experience, infant feeding or crying, the level of support they will have at home, or feelings of sadness or anxiety.

Publications

• Watt, F. (2016) Co- Lead in production of Western Australian Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Model of Care: Western Australian Department of Health. Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Model of Care – a framework. Perth: North Metropolitan Health Service, Western Australian Department of Health, Western Australia.
• Ilett, KF, Watt FR et al.(2010) Assessment of Infant Dose Through Milk in a Lactating Woman Taking Amisulpride and Desvenlafaxine for Treatment- Resistant Depression Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Vol32, Number 6.
• Thinh Nguyen, Janette Brooks, Jacqueline Frayne, Felice Watt and Jane Fisher(2015). The Preconception Needs of Women with severe mental illness: a consecutive clinical case series. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology, 36:3, 87-93.
• Campbell, Watt, Sharp. “Through the looking glass”: Complexities of trauma for mothers and their babies born very preterm. In Comprehensive Guide to Posttraumatic Stress Disorders, Springer In press.
• Mahmood, O.M. & Ahmed, S.R. (2011). Cultural Implications of Psychological Assessment with Muslims. In: Ahmed S., Amer M.A.., editors. Muslim Mental Health: A Treatment Handbook. Routledge. New York.
• Mahmood, O.M. & Ahmed, S.R. (2016). Psychological assessment and diagnosis. In Amer, M., & Abdo., G. (Eds.), Handbook of Arab American Psychology. Routledge. New York.
• Ahmed, S.R., Mana, M., (2016). Arab Americans in Context: A Sociocultural Ecological Perspective in Understanding the Arab American Experience. In M. A. Bond, C. Keys, & I. Serrano-García. (Eds.), APA Handbook of Community Psychology. American Psychological Association. Washington DC
• Sumner, L.A., Eisenman, D.P., Valentine, J., Ahmed, S.R., Myers, H., Wyatt, G., Liu, H., Zhang, M., Rodriguez, M.A. (2011). The Influence of Prenatal Trauma, Stress, Social Support, and Years of Residency in the US on Postpartum Maternal Health Status Among Low-Income Latinas, Maternal and Child Health Journal (15), 1046-1054
• Rodriguez, M.A., Valentine, J., Ahmed, S.R., Eisenman, D.P., Sumner, L.A., Liu, H. (2010). Intimate Partner Violence and Maternal Depression during the Perinatal Period: A Longitudinal Investigation of Latinas. Violence Against Women, (16), 543-559
• Eisenman, D.P., Richardson, E., Sumner, L.A., Ahmed, S.R., Liu, H., Valentine, J., Rodriguez, M. (2009). Intimate Partner Violence and Community Service Needs Depression and PTSD among Pregnant and Post- partum Latina Women. Violence and Victims, (29), 111-12

Presentations

International:

1. April 2017 “In the Spotlight and Under Surveillance: Risk and Resilience Amongst Middle Eastern and North African Youth in the United States” Sawssan R. Ahmed, Gigi Awad, Maryam Kia-Keating, Selcuk Serin. Roundtable at the 2017 Society for Research on Child Development Biennial Conference, Austin, TX, United States.
2. Sept 2017 An Australian Psychiatrist-Psychodynamic Psychotherapist and a Californian, Arabic Speaking Muslim Clinical Psychologist with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Expertise work together to provide “best practice” Psychotherapeutic Interventions for women with Perinatal Mental Health Disorders in Qatar: Challenges, Learnings and Reflections. Felice Watt, Sawssan R. Ahmed. Presentation at the Faculty of Psychotherapy Conference of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Uluru, NT, Australia.
3. October 2017 “Child, Adolescent and Women’s Mental Health Services in Qatar: Past, Present and Future” Muhammad Waqar Azeem, Ahsan Nazeer, Felice Watt, Deepak Kaura; Symposium on Global Perspectives on Child and Youth Mental Health Services, Presentation at WPA XVII World Congress of Psychiatry, Berlin, Germany
4. October 2017 “Child, Adolescent and Women’s Mental Health Services in Qatar: Past, Present and Future” Muhammad Waqar Azeem, Ahsan Nazeer, Felice Watt, Deepak Kaura; Symposium Presentation at 64^th Annual Conference of American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), Washington DC, USA
5. November 2017 “The Intersectionality of Religious and Ethnic Identity and It’s Relationship to Psychological Symptoms in Arab American Muslim Adolescents: Demographic and Socio-cultural Considerations”. Sawssan R. Ahmed, Erin Valentine, Angela-MinhTu Nguyen. Presented at the3^rd International Congress of Clinical and Health Psychology in Children and Adolescents, Seville, Spain.
6. November 2017 “A perinatal and infant mental health model of care (PIMH-MOC) - an opportunity to improve the wellbeing of women, their infants and families in Qatar” Felice Watt, Dalia Albahary, Hessa Shahbik, Sawssan R. Ahmed, Erin Valentine. Workshop presented at 6^th Qatar International Mental Health Conference, Doha, Qatar.
7. November 2017 “The Intersectionality of Religious and Ethnic Identity and It’s Relationship to Psychological Symptoms in Arab American Muslim Adolescents: Demographic and Socio-cultural Considerations”. Sawssan R. Ahmed, Erin Valentine, Angela-MinhTu Nguyen. Presented at the3^rd International Congress of Clinical and Health Psychology in Children and Adolescents, Seville, Spain.
8. November 2017 “The Development of a Perinatal Mental Service in Qatar: The First 6 Months - Baby Steps, Challenges and Opportunities.”. Felice Watt, Safia Ahmed, Sawssan R. Ahmed, Hayfaa Al-Naemi. Presented at the 3^rd Biennial Perinatal Mental Health Conference, Chicago, IL, United States.

 

National:

1. October 2017 “Cygnet Programme” Fatima Janjua, Erin Valentine, Nahed Alateeqi, Five-week Parent Education Series Presentation at Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar.
2. October 2017 “Sometimes it hurts when we care: workplace trauma – impacts, responses, building resilience”. Felice Watt. Presented for World Mental Health Day, Sidra Medicine.
3. October 2017 “Can a perinatal psychiatrist be of use during the antenatal period? Red flags and recommendations. Felice Watt. Woman’s Hospital, Doha, Qatar.
4. November 2017 “Autism Education for PHCC Physicians – The Cygnet Programme” Fatima Janjua, Erin Valentine, Nahed Alateeqi, Invited Presentation at PHCC, Doha, Qatar.
5. November 2017 “Socio-Emotional and Brain Development in Children” Omar M. Mahmood, Sawssan R. Ahmed, Invited Presentation at Arab International Academy, Doha, Qatar