Rania Awaad, MD

All Publications

• The Development and Implementation of a Custom-Tailored Suicide Response Training for Muslim Communities. Journal of religion and health Awaad, R., Midani, M., Ali, T., Sifat, M. S., Albatnuni, M. 2024

  Abstract

  Research indicates that the suicide attempt rate among American Muslims is at least twice the rate of the national US average and follows a different trend of suicide behavior compared to other groups. Religious leaders, such as Imams, are commonly sought out for support, but many lack training in mental health crisis management. The Stanford Muslim Mental Health and Islamic Psychology Lab created the Muslim Community Suicide Response Manual and its accompanying training modules to address this issue. This paper describes the creation, evolution, and future directions of the Suicide Response Training from an Islamic perspective to reduce suicide risk in Muslim communities.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s10943-024-02032-5

  View details for PubMedID 38532031

  View details for PubMedCentralID 9971854

• A Brief Overview of the Islamic Ethics of Suicide and Suicide-Related Contemporary Issues from a Sunnī Perspective: A Primer for Clinicians and Researchers. Journal of religion and health Zia, B., Kouser, T., Helal, H., Awaad, R. 2024

  Abstract

  Suicide is a growing global health concern with complex socioeconomic implications. Understanding psychosocial resiliency factors may facilitate suicide prevention. Religious moral objections to suicide, including those inspired by the Islamic faith, appear to promote resilience to suicide. However, few English-language resources provide an overview of Islam's moral and ethical position on suicide, potentially hindering treatment of, and research on, suicide risk among Muslims. In the current paper, Islam's unanimous prohibition of suicide is explored and contextualized within the religion's foundational principles regarding the sanctity of life, the role and necessity of hardships, and one's responsibility to care for their body and to maintain their rights to their community. The role of harsh deterrents to suicide are contrasted with the impetus to show compassion to the deceased and the bereaved. Given the increasing focus on suicide-related topics such as euthanasia/ medical assistance in dying (MAID) and suicide contagion, Islam's ethical and legal position on suicide is discussed in the context of these contemporary moral issues.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s10943-024-02007-6

  View details for PubMedID 38421564

  View details for PubMedCentralID 8295887

• Developing a Suicide Crisis Response Team in America: An Islamic Perspective. Journal of religion and health Awaad, R., Durrani, Z., Quadri, Y., Sifat, M. S., Hussein, A., Kouser, T., El-Gabalawy, O., Rajeh, N., Shareef, S. 2024

  Abstract

  Suicide is a critical public health issue in the United States, recognized as the tenth leading cause of death across all age groups (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). Despite the Islamic prohibition on suicide, suicidal ideation and suicide mortality persist among Muslim populations. Recent data suggest that U.S. Muslim adults are particularly vulnerable, with a higher attempt history compared to respondents from other faith traditions. While the underlying reasons for this vulnerability are unclear, it is evident that culturally and religiously congruent mental health services can be utilized to steer suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention in Muslim communities across the United States. However, the development of Suicide Response toolkits specific to Muslim populations is currently limited. As a result, Muslim communities lack a detailed framework to appropriately respond in the event of a suicide tragedy. This paper aims to fill this gap in the literature by providing structured guidelines for the formation of a Crisis Response Team (CRT) through an Islamic lens. The CRT comprises of a group of individuals who are strategically positioned to respond to a suicide tragedy. Ideally, the team will include religious leaders, mental health professionals, healthcare providers, social workers, and community leaders. The proposed guidelines are designed to be culturally and religiously congruent and take into account the unique cultural and religious factors that influence Muslim communities' responses to suicide. By equipping key personnel in Muslim communities with the resources to intervene in an emergent situation, provide support to those affected, and mobilize community members to assist in prevention efforts, this model can help save lives and prevent future suicide tragedies in Muslim communities across the United States.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s10943-023-01993-3

  View details for PubMedID 38245908

  View details for PubMedCentralID 8295887

• An Exploratory Qualitative Analysis of the Stanford-Templeton Convenings on Islam and Suicide. Journal of religion and health Awaad, R., Quadri, Y., Sifat, M., Elzamzamy, K., Suleiman, K., Rehman, O., Husain, A., Abdelrehim, A., Rushdi, R., Belanger, C. C., Hill, T. D., Koenig, H. G. 2024

  Abstract

  For over 70years, studies have reported lower rates of completed suicide in Muslim-majority countries and individuals who identify as Muslim. To this point, the mechanisms underlying the relationship between Islam and lower risk of suicide remain understudied. In an effort to advance our understanding, we convened a bilingual international interdisciplinary panel of experts for a discussion of the current state and future directions of the field. In this paper, we present an exploratory qualitative analysis of the core themes that emerged from the group interviews. We also derive a general theoretical model of the association between Islam and suicide risk.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s10943-023-01986-2

  View details for PubMedID 38198108

• The Development of a Novel Suicide Postvention Healing Model for Muslim Communities in the United States of America. Journal of religion and health Awaad, R., Hussein, A., Durrani, Z., Shareef, S. 2023

  Abstract

  Suicide among American Muslims is understudied, despite recent research highlighting increased suicide attempts amongthis population. While suicide is forbidden in Islam, formal guidelines for addressing and responding to suicide within Muslim communities did not exist until recently. The Stanford Muslim Mental Health and Islamic Psychology Lab has responded to a number of suicides in Muslim communities across North America and implemented an original model for suicide response and community healing. This approach incorporates Islamic principles and values to create a culturally and religiously congruent response to suicide that can support loss survivors and steer impacted communities toward healing. The Muslim Postvention Community Healing session described in this paper aims to provide a safe space for individuals impacted by suicide to come together and process their emotions, while also using Islamic teachings to guide the healing process. This unique model has the potential to serve as a valuable resource for Muslim communities across North America, and beyond, in addressing and responding to suicide.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s10943-023-01949-7

  View details for PubMedID 38006521

• Melodies in the hospital courtyard: A comparative history of Ottoman music therapy in the early modern period (c. 1400-1800) ARTS IN PSYCHOTHERAPY Awaad, R., Nursoy-Demir, M. 2023; 86

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.aip.2023.102092

  View details for Web of Science ID 001102212000001

• Ethnic differences in Muslim women's mental health beliefs, rejection attitudes, and familiarity with professional mental healthcare MENTAL HEALTH RELIGION & CULTURE Elahi, S., Elsayed, D., Ali, S., Awaad, R. 2023

  View details for DOI 10.1080/13674676.2023.2243459

  View details for Web of Science ID 001144066500001

• The Role of Muslim Religious Leaders in Mental Health: A Community-Based Participatory Research Study in the San Francisco Bay Area PASTORAL PSYCHOLOGY Humam, F., McBryde-Redzovic, A., Mahoui, I., Ali, S., Abolaban, H., Zia, B., Awaad, R. 2023

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s11089-023-01077-9

  View details for Web of Science ID 001007188500001

• Suicidality in the Arab World: Results from an Online Screener. Community mental health journal Daouk, S., Dailami, M., Barakat, S., Awaad, R., Muñoz, R. F., Leykin, Y. 2023

  Abstract

  Suicide in the Arab World is grossly understudied. This study sought to understand suicidality among Arabic-speaking individuals visiting an online depression screener. A large sample (N = 23,201) from the Arab World was recruited online. 78.9% (n = 17,042) reported suicidality (thoughts of death or suicide, or a suicide attempt) and 12.4% reported a suicide attempt in the past 2 weeks. Binary logistic regressions indicated that women tended to report more suicidality, and that suicidality tended to decline with age (all ps < 0.001), across all levels of suicidality. Comparing countries with n ≥ 1000 (Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia), several 3-way (gender * age * country) and 2-way interactions indicated that some countries departed from the usual pattern of responses. For instance, in Algeria, neither gender nor age differences were observed in reported attempts. Women and younger adults in the Arab World may be at higher risk of suicidality. Differences between and within countries warrant further exploration.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s10597-023-01129-7

  View details for PubMedID 37140845

  View details for PubMedCentralID 5618823

• Islam and Suicide: An Interdisciplinary Scoping Review SPIRITUALITY IN CLINICAL PRACTICE Awaad, R., Quadri, Y., Suleiman, K., Husain, A., Hosseini, Z., Rehman, O., Elzamzamy, K., Abdelrehim, A., Rushdi, R., Hill, T., Koenig, H. 2023; 10 (1): 32-51

  View details for DOI 10.1037/scp0000311

  View details for Web of Science ID 000970289700004

• The Original Self-Help Book: Al-Balkhi 's 9th Century "Sustenance of the Body and Soul" SPIRITUALITY IN CLINICAL PRACTICE Awaad, R., Ali, S. 2023; 10 (1): 89-98

  View details for DOI 10.1037/scp0000310

  View details for Web of Science ID 000970289700008

• Predictors of depression among Syrian refugee women: A socio-culturally relevant analysis. The International journal of social psychiatry Hosseini, Z., Bakdash, T., Ahmad, S., Awaad, R. 2023: 207640231155810

  Abstract

  Syrian refugee women have faced myriad adversities as they have navigated the realities of war, increasing the risk for mental health concerns such as depressive symptomatology. This study explores the nuances of relevant sociocultural factors that can contribute to depressive symptomatology among widowed Syrian refugee women who live in an institutionalized care setting. We explored the impact of past trauma exposure, perceived independence, and a desire to leave the current place of displacement and the interplay between them.The PCRF Traumatic Events Questionnaire and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) were administered to 57 Syrian refugee women in Lebanon (Mage = 37; M number of children = 3) to measure levels of trauma exposure and depressive symptoms, respectively. Perceived independence and a desire to leave their current place of residence were measured using 1-item measures.Using hierarchical regression models, past trauma exposure (B = 1.51, p = .002) and perceived independence (B = 0.33, p = .04) significantly predicted depressive symptoms. A desire to travel (B = 0.84, p = .07) marginally predicted depressive symptoms. Past trauma exposure attenuated the impact of perceived independence on depressive symptoms such that at lower levels of past trauma exposure, higher perceptions of independence predicted higher depression (simple slope = 0.29, t = 2.13, p = .05), while at higher levels of past trauma higher perceptions of independence predicted lower depressive symptoms (simple slope = -0.16, t = -2.21, p = .04). Trauma exposure did not moderate the impact of a desire to leave on depression, but age did.These findings suggest that sociocultural factors may influence women's experiences with depressive symptoms differently, and this heterogeneity must be accounted for when treatment programs are proposed. Further, Syrian refugee women who have lost primary family members may pose different profiles of depressive symptoms than other groups of women.

  View details for DOI 10.1177/00207640231155810

  View details for PubMedID 36825623

• Islamic Civilizations and Plagues: The Role of Religion, Faith and Psychology During Pandemics. Journal of religion and health Awaad, R., Nursoy-Demir, M., Khalil, A., Helal, H. 2023: 1-15

  Abstract

  The current study seeks to analyze Muslim experiences of communicative diseases with a focus on the psychosocial impacts and public, communal, and personal responses of Muslim populations throughout history. By examining a selection of plague outbreaks between the 8-19th centuries across the lands broadly defined as the Islamic Mediterranean (Varlık, 2017), the guidelines and coping mechanisms that Muslims extracted from their traditional sources are highlighted. This historical perspective contributes to a better understanding of the psychological and social aspects of pandemics for the Muslim community, specifically for the role played by faith and spirituality as determinants of psychological well-being in Muslims' perceptions and responses. We suggest that such an understanding is especially useful for contemporary mental health practitioners working with Muslim patients through the global COVID-19 pandemic.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s10943-023-01765-z

  View details for PubMedID 36823257

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC9949692

• Chronic Disease Management During Ramadan AMERICAN FAMILY PHYSICIAN Waqar, S., Ghouri, N., Awaad, R. 2023; 107 (2): 125-126

  View details for Web of Science ID 000926234900008

• Chronic Disease Management During Ramadan. American family physician Waqar, S., Ghouri, N., Awaad, R. 2023; 107 (2): 125-126

  View details for PubMedID 36791453

• The Bay Area Muslim mental health community advisory board: evaluation of a community based participatory approach. Epidemiology and psychiatric sciences Ali, S. S., Mahoui, I., Hassoun, R., Mojaddidi, H., Awaad, R. 2023; 32: e7

  Abstract

  The aim of this paper is to present a novel case for the formation, operation and evaluation of a community advisory aboard comprised of Muslims residing in the San Francisco Bay Area, California that utilised a community based participatory approach to address local Muslim mental health needs. The CAB was recruited in partnership with the Muslim Community Association (MCA), one of the largest Islamic centres in the San Franscisco Bay Area. In addition to describing the development of the CAB, the authors present the findings of the evaluation and synthesis of best processes based on CAB members' feedback.To evaluate the perceived community advisory board members' perceptions of their roles and elicit feedback on how to enhance the relationship between the university team and the CAB, an evaluation was conducted by an independent team who was not part of the research process. Data was collected using anonymous individual surveys and small group open discussions that were conducted over three evaluation meetings. The evaluation utilised mixed method data collection strategies using questions from Schulz et al. (, Evaluation and Program Planning 26, 249-262), an instrument for evaluating dimensions of group dynamics within CBPR partnerships.Results of the evaluation within the sphere of CAB operation indicated that CAB members found the greatest satisfaction from their contributions through direct participation in the research activities that were conducted by the university-CAB team. The collective responses indicated that most CAB members were satisfied with trust built between the university-CAB team and the diversity represented in the members of the board. However, given that the Bay Area is home to a very diverse Muslim community, challenges in recruiting representatives that account for all possible self-identifying groups was reported by the CAB with recommendations to recruit religious leaders. Recommendations also included eliciting funds for potential financial compensation for CAB members.The Stanford-San Francisco Bay Area CAB demonstrated that empowering community members through direct participation, creating channels and safe spaces for feedback help create community rooted research that carry the true voices of marginalised communities and reflects their evolving needs.

  View details for DOI 10.1017/S2045796022000786

  View details for PubMedID 36718769

• Ethnic Differences in Muslim Women's Mental Health Beliefs, Rejection Attitudes, and Familiarity with Professional Mental Healthcare. Mental health, religion & culture Elahi, S., Elsayed, D., Ali, S., Awaad, R. 2023; 26 (9): 890-907

  Abstract

  Prior work on Muslims' mental health help-seeking factors has emphasized their rejection attitudes, religious and cultural beliefs, and familiarity with mental health (Aloud & Rathur, 2009; Ali et al., 2021). However, no research has examined differences in these factors across different Muslim ethnic groups, and particularly among Muslim women. 1214 Muslim women living in the USA completed online questionnaires. Data was stratified based on history of mental health visits to control for previous service utilization. MANOVAs assessed ethnic group differences in beliefs, familiarity, and rejection attitudes toward professional mental healthcare. Results revealed significant differences between ethnic groups in all three factors; these differences depended on the women's history of service utilization. Findings suggest that barriers to accessing professional mental healthcare differ among Muslim ethnic groups. Results are discussed in light of clinical implications and other contributing factors to the underutilization of professional mental healthcare among ethnically diverse American Muslim women.

  View details for DOI 10.1080/13674676.2023.2243459

  View details for PubMedID 38585328

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC10997350

• Suicide Response in American Muslim Communities: A Community Case Study JOURNAL OF MUSLIM MENTAL HEALTH Suleiman, K., El-Gabalawy, O., Zia, B., Awaad, R. 2023; 17 (1): 1-13

  View details for DOI 10.3998/jmmh.1457

  View details for Web of Science ID 000963759100001

• A Systematic Review of Evidence-Based Interventions for Afghan Refugee Mental Health: A Cultural Adaptation Analysis Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology Hosseini, Z., Syed, H., Raza, Z., Mansouri, M., Magan, I., Awaad, R. 2023

  View details for DOI 10.1177/00220221231213884

• Role of Mosque Communities in Supporting Muslims with Mental Illness: Results of CBPR-oriented Focus Groups in the Bay Area, California. The Psychiatric quarterly Ali, S., Mahmood, A., McBryde-Redzovic, A., Humam, F., Awaad, R. 2022

  Abstract

  Objective The purpose of this study was to explore perspectives of Muslims residing in the Bay Area, California on the role of the mosque community in supporting community members' mental health needs and barriers to mental health care for members who experience mental health challenges. Methods This study employed a CBPR-focused qualitative approach in the form of content analysis of three focus group discussions organized and conducted with the help of a Community Advisory Board made up of members of the Muslim Community Association. Results Two major themes were identified upon examination of the data: services needed in the mosque community and barriers to addressing mental health issues in the mosque community. Specifically, participants reported wanting support groups within the mosque space, mosque-based activities, virtual support, community social workers, and family-oriented services. Barriers reported included community stigma, lack of cultural awareness of race-ethnic minorities within the community, attribution of mental illness to lack of faith or supernatural causes, and specific barriers unique to vulnerable/special subgroups within the community. Conclusion These findings highlight the need for developing mental health-related services and social support initiatives within the mosque space, specifically for those Muslim Americans living in the Bay Area in California. Furthermore, special attention needs to be placed on the barriers to accessing these services as identified by the community members.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s11126-022-10002-x

  View details for PubMedID 36322232

• Addressing Mental Health Through Community Partnerships in a Muslim Community. Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.) Awaad, R., Obaid, E., Kouser, T., Ali, S. 2022: appips202100505

  Abstract

  The mental health of American Muslims remains significantly understudied and unaddressed, despite known obstacles to Muslims' utilization of mental health services, such as stigma and institutional mistrust. Since the inception of the Stanford Muslim Mental Health and Islamic Psychology Lab in 2014, partnerships across the Bay Area were formed among key Muslim community establishments to address obstacles to good mental health. Through a community-centered approach, diverse stakeholders engaged to identify and address the community's most pressing mental health challenges. Successful outcomes of this approach include facilitated research and mental health initiatives to support the Bay Area Muslim community.

  View details for DOI 10.1176/appi.ps.202100505

  View details for PubMedID 36065581

• From Alchemy to Psychiatry: A Glimpse into the Ethics and Mental Health Practices of Tenth-Century Muslim Physician Abu Bakr al-Razi. Harvard review of psychiatry Awaad, R., Conn, Y. S., Kolkailah, N., El-Haddad, H., Ali, S., Fereydooni, S. 2022; 30 (5): 323-326

  View details for DOI 10.1097/HRP.0000000000000347

  View details for PubMedID 36103685

• Improving Recruitment for Mental Health Research in Muslim American Women : Research Recruitment in Muslim American Women. Community mental health journal Awaad, R., Abolaban, H., Maklad, S., Ahmad, R., Koopman, C. 2021

  Abstract

  This study determines the methods for improving recruitment of Muslim American women in mental health research. Studying this minority population in moredepth will reduce their suffering from mental illness. A 40-item survey, along with cover letter, was hosted on the Stanford University website and sent via email to organizations known to have large Muslim American women populations. Although approximately 200-300 responses were hoped for, an unexpected total of 1279 women completed the survey within days. The effectiveness of this survey was attributed to multiple factors: ease of an online survey, privacy afforded through an anonymous survey, trust in the PI, the survey being hosted by areputableuniversity and understanding the importance of mental health research. It is important to continue improving methods to recruit the minority Muslim American women population for studies.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s10597-021-00887-6

  View details for PubMedID 34510299

• Suicide Attempts of Muslims Compared With Other Religious Groups in the US. JAMA psychiatry Awaad, R., El-Gabalawy, O., Jackson-Shaheed, E., Zia, B., Keshavarzi, H., Mogahed, D., Altalib, H. 2021

  View details for DOI 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2021.1813

  View details for PubMedID 34287614

• Predicting rejection attitudes toward utilizing formal mental health services in Muslim women in the US: Results from the Muslims' perceptions and attitudes to mental health study. The International journal of social psychiatry Ali, S., Elsayed, D., Elahi, S., Zia, B., Awaad, R. 2021: 207640211001084

  Abstract

  BACKGROUND: The underutilization of mental health services is a recognized problem for the growing number of Muslims living in the West. Despite their unique mental health risk factors and the pivotal role they play in determining mental health discourse in their families and in society, Muslim women in particular have not received sufficient study.AIM: To help remedy this research gap, we examined factors that may impact the rejection attitudes of Muslim women toward professional mental health care using the first psychometrically validated scale of its kind; the M-PAMH (Muslims' Perceptions and Attitudes to Mental Health).METHODS: A total of 1,222 Muslim women responded to questions about their cultural and religious beliefs about mental health, stigma associated with mental health, and familiarity with formal mental health services in an anonymous online survey.RESULTS: Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that higher religious and cultural beliefs, higher societal stigma, and lower familiarity with professional mental health services were associated with greater rejection attitudes toward professional mental healthcare. The final model was statistically significant, F (5, 1,216)=73.778; p<.001, and explained 23% of the variance in rejection attitudes with stigma accounting for the most (12.3%) variance, followed by cultural and religious mental health beliefs (6%), and familiarity with mental health services (2.7%).CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that although the examined factors contributed significantly to the model, they may not be sufficient in the explanation of Muslim women's rejection attitudes toward mental health services. Future research may explore additional variables, as well as predictive profiles for Muslim women's perceptions and attitudes of mental health based on a combination of these factors.

  View details for DOI 10.1177/00207640211001084

  View details for PubMedID 33719665

• THE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES FACING MUSLIM YOUTH IN THE ERA OF COVID-19 Adam, B. S., Awaad, R. Y., Abbasi, F. Z. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. 2021: S16

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jaac.2021.07.080

  View details for Web of Science ID 000707082800052

• BELIEFS AND BEHAVIORS OF TRANSITIONAL-AGED MUSLIM YOUTH IN COVID-19 Awaad, R. Y. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. 2021: S17

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jaac.2021.07.084

  View details for Web of Science ID 000707082800056

• Common and Country-Specific Characteristics Associated With Suicidality in the Arab Region. The Journal of clinical psychiatry Daouk, S., Awaad, R., Ahmed, B., Barakat, S., Munoz, R. F., Leykin, Y. 2020; 82 (1)

  Abstract

  OBJECTIVE: To explore the prevalence of recent (previous 2 weeks) suicide attempts and estimates of likelihood of future suicide attempts as well as demographic characteristics associated with such attempts among residents of the Arab region looking for depression information online.METHODS: Google Ads were used to recruit 1,003 Arabic-speaking adults mostly from February 2014 to June 2014 to take part in a depression and suicidality screening study using a self-report questionnaire based on DSM-IV diagnostic criteria.RESULTS: Of the eligible participants (N = 900), 10.6% reported a suicide attempt in the previous 2 weeks, and 16.1% indicated a likelihood of making a suicide attempt in the following month. Men, those declining to state their sexual orientation, those from lower subjective social status (SSS), and unemployed individuals had higher odds of reporting a past suicide attempt (P = .001, P = .002, P < .001, P = .023, respectively). Younger individuals, those less religious, those with past suicide attempt, and those with lower SSS had higher odds of a likelihood of a future suicide attempt (P = .03, P = .02, P < .001, P = .001, respectively). Comparing the 4 countries with highest number of participants (Algeria, n = 148, Egypt, n = 260, Morocco, n = 118, and Saudi Arabia, n = 99), lower SSS was associated with higher odds of an attempt for Algeria, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia, but not for Egypt (P = .002). Lower religiosity was related to higher odds of estimates of future suicide for Algeria, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, but not for Morocco (P = .014).CONCLUSIONS: Suicidality among residents of Arab-speaking countries warrants further exploration. Common predictors of risk may be less relevant for some populations.​.

  View details for DOI 10.4088/JCP.19m13199

  View details for PubMedID 33356022

• US policy of public charge inadmissibility and refugee suicides LANCET PSYCHIATRY Awaad, R., Dailami, M., Noureddine, N. 2020; 7 (3): E12

  View details for Web of Science ID 000516810100005

• US policy of public charge inadmissibility and refugee suicides. The lancet. Psychiatry Awaad, R. n., Dailami, M. n., Noureddine, N. n. 2020; 7 (3): e12

  View details for DOI 10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30037-7

  View details for PubMedID 32087811

• Development and Validation of the Muslims' Perceptions and Attitudes to Mental Health (M-PAMH) Scale with a Sample of American Muslim Women JOURNAL OF MUSLIM MENTAL HEALTH Awaad, R., Fisher, A. J., Ali, S., Rasgon, N. 2019; 13 (2): 119–35

  View details for DOI 10.3998/jmmh.10381607.0013.205

  View details for Web of Science ID 000526417600006

• Considerations for clinicians treating Muslim patients with psychiatric disorders during Ramadan LANCET PSYCHIATRY Furqan, Z., Awaad, R., Kurdyak, P., Husain, M. I., Husain, N., Zaheer, J. 2019; 6 (7): 556–57

  View details for DOI 10.1016/S2215-0366(19)30161-0

  View details for Web of Science ID 000472225800011

• Considerations for clinicians treating Muslim patients with psychiatric disorders during Ramadan. The lancet. Psychiatry Furqan, Z., Awaad, R., Kurdyak, P., Husain, M. I., Husain, N., Zaheer, J. 2019

  View details for PubMedID 31056458

• A Muslim Graduate Student From Sudan Trapped by the Travel Ban. The American journal of psychiatry Awaad, R. 2017; 174 (10): 925-926

  View details for DOI 10.1176/appi.ajp.2017.17060700

  View details for PubMedID 28965465

• Facilitating mental health screening of war-torn populations using mobile applications SOCIAL PSYCHIATRY AND PSYCHIATRIC EPIDEMIOLOGY Hashemi, B., Ali, S., Awaad, R., Soudi, L., Housel, L., Sosebee, S. J. 2017; 52 (1): 27-33

  Abstract

  War-torn populations are often hard to screen for mental health disorders. Classical data collection approaches, such as paper-based, online, or SMS-operated, are either infeasible or lack accuracy due to a variety of challenges associated with dynamics and consequences of war.In this paper, we introduce a novel approach for accurate and fast screening using free open-source software, Open Data Kit (ODK) mobile application. This approach was developed by the Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF) to assess the mental health symptoms of 986 Palestinian children (age 6-18) in the aftermath of Israel's Operation Protective Edge (OPE) in 2014. The organization developed assessment questionnaires and trained local field workers on the use of the mobile application, and on recruiting and interviewing war victims.War-affected children were found to suffer from several alarming symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and somatic symptoms. Children with highest number of psychological symptoms were referred for further evaluation and treatment.The use of ODK mobile technologies facilitated efficient screening of affected children in war zones. The offline data collection capability was crucial for handling the difficult conditions associated with war-torn areas, enabling timely intervention for urgent cases. Further applications of the novel mobile technology are to be explored.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s00127-016-1303-7

  View details for Web of Science ID 000392312600004

• Facilitating mental health screening of war-torn populations using mobile applications. Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology Hashemi, B., Ali, S., Awaad, R., Soudi, L., Housel, L., Sosebee, S. J. 2016: -?

  Abstract

  War-torn populations are often hard to screen for mental health disorders. Classical data collection approaches, such as paper-based, online, or SMS-operated, are either infeasible or lack accuracy due to a variety of challenges associated with dynamics and consequences of war.In this paper, we introduce a novel approach for accurate and fast screening using free open-source software, Open Data Kit (ODK) mobile application. This approach was developed by the Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF) to assess the mental health symptoms of 986 Palestinian children (age 6-18) in the aftermath of Israel's Operation Protective Edge (OPE) in 2014. The organization developed assessment questionnaires and trained local field workers on the use of the mobile application, and on recruiting and interviewing war victims.War-affected children were found to suffer from several alarming symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and somatic symptoms. Children with highest number of psychological symptoms were referred for further evaluation and treatment.The use of ODK mobile technologies facilitated efficient screening of affected children in war zones. The offline data collection capability was crucial for handling the difficult conditions associated with war-torn areas, enabling timely intervention for urgent cases. Further applications of the novel mobile technology are to be explored.

  View details for PubMedID 27815623

• A modern conceptualization of phobia in al-Balkhi's 9th century treatise: Sustenance of the Body and Soul. Journal of anxiety disorders Awaad, R., Ali, S. 2016; 37: 89-93

  Abstract

  Morbid fears and phobias have been mentioned in religious, philosophical and medical manuscripts since ancient times. Despite early insights by the Greeks, phobias did not appear as a separate clinical phenomenon in Western medicine until the 17th century and has evolved substantially since. However, robust investigations attempting to decipher the clinical nature of phobias emerged in pre-modern times during the oft-overlooked Islamic Golden Era (9th-12th centuries); which overlapped with Europe's medieval period. An innovative attempt was made by the 9th century Muslim scholar, Abu Zayd al-Balkhi, in his medical manuscript "Sustenance of the Body and Soul," to define phobias as a separate diagnostic entity. Al-Balkhi was one of the earliest to cluster psychological and physical symptoms of phobias under one category, "al-Fazaá", and outline a specific management plan. We analyze al-Balkhi's description of phobias, according to the modern understanding of psychiatric classifications and symptomatology as described in the DSM-5.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.janxdis.2015.11.003

  View details for PubMedID 26741063

• A Process-Oriented Approach to Teaching Religion and Spirituality in Psychiatry Residency Training. Academic psychiatry Awaad, R., Ali, S., Salvador, M., Bandstra, B. 2015; 39 (6): 654-660

  Abstract

  Although the importance of addressing issues of spirituality and religion is increasingly acknowledged within psychiatry training, many questions remain about how to best teach relevant knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Current literature on curricula highlights the importance of maintaining a clinical focus and the balance between didactic content and process issues. The authors present findings from a program evaluation study of a course on religion, spirituality, and psychiatry that deliberately takes a primarily process-oriented, clinically focused approach.Two six-session courses were offered. The first course targeted fourth-year psychiatry residents and the second targeted third-year psychiatry residents. Teaching sessions consisted of brief didactics combined with extensive process-oriented discussion. A two-person faculty team facilitated the courses. Clinical case discussions were integrated throughout the curriculum. A panel of chaplains was invited to participate in one session of each course to discuss the interface between spiritual counsel and psychiatry. A modified version of the Course Impact Questionnaire, a 20-item Likert scale utilized in previous studies of spirituality curricula in psychiatry, assessed residents' personal spiritual attitudes, competency, change in professional practice, and change in professional attitudes before and after the course (N = 20). Qualitative feedback was also elicited through written comments.The results from this study showed a statistically significant difference between the pre- and post-test scale for residents' self-perceived competency and change in professional practice.The findings suggest improvement in competency and professional practice scores in residents who participated in this course. This points toward the overall usefulness of the course and suggests that a process-oriented approach may be effective for discussing religion and spirituality in psychiatric training.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s40596-014-0256-y

  View details for PubMedID 25510222

• Obsessional Disorders in al-Balkhi's 9th century treatise: Sustenance of the Body and Soul JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS Awaad, R., Ali, S. 2015; 180: 185-189

  Abstract

  Some argue that the earliest case of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) was reported by Robert Burton in his compendium The Anatomy of Melancholy (1621) and that only in the 19th century did modern concepts of OCD evolve, differentiating it from other types of mental illness. In this paper, we aim to reveal an even earlier presentation of the malady we now call OCD based on the 9th century work, Sustenance of the Body and Soul, written by Abu Zayd al-Balkhi during the Islamic Golden Era. Discovery of this manuscript reveals that Abu Zayd al-Balkhi should be credited with differentiating OCD from other forms of mental illnesses nearly a millennium earlier than is currently claimed by anthologies documenting the history of mental illness. Particular attention is paid to al-Balkhi's classifications, symptom descriptions, predisposing factors, and the treatment modalities for obsessional disorders. Analysis of this manuscript in light of the DSM-5 and modern scientific discoveries reveals transcultural diagnostic consistency of OCD across many centuries. Theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are also discussed.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jad.2015.03.003

  View details for Web of Science ID 000354607700027

  View details for PubMedID 25911133

• A Journey of Mutual Growth: Mental Health Awareness in the Muslim Community Partnerships in Mental Health Awaad, R. edited by Roberts, L. Springer International Publishing Switzerland . 2015