Research outputs
2026
Associations between exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) and infant developmental delay: moderating role of women's empowerment at six weeks postpartum.
Nisar, A., Park, S., Liaqat, R., Zaidi, A., Malik, A., Atif, N., . . . Surkan, P. J. (2026). Associations between exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) and infant developmental delay: moderating role of women's empowerment at six weeks postpartum.. BMC public health. doi:10.1186/s12889-026-26528-9
Innovating perinatal mental health delivery in Pakistan: a public-private partnership model in primary care
Nazir, H., Malik, A., Nizami, A., Tariq, M., Nisar, A., Waqas, A., . . . Rahman, A. (2026). Innovating perinatal mental health delivery in Pakistan: a public-private partnership model in primary care. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF PSYCHIATRY. doi:10.1080/09540261.2026.2621824
2025
Comparing standard and technology-assisted peer-delivered CBT for perinatal depression: A causal mediation study
Waqas, A., Seward, N., Atif, N., Malik, A., Nisar, A., Sikander, S., . . . Rahman, A. (2025). Comparing standard and technology-assisted peer-delivered CBT for perinatal depression: A causal mediation study. CAMBRIDGE PRISMS-GLOBAL MENTAL HEALTH, 13. doi:10.1017/gmh.2025.10109
Psychological dilemmas and distress among Chinese primiparas during the postpartum transition underlying implicit cultural norms: a phenomenological inquiry
Nan, Y., Yang, L., Nisar, A., Zhang, J., Gao, Y., Zhang, M., . . . Zhang, Y. (2025). Psychological dilemmas and distress among Chinese primiparas during the postpartum transition underlying implicit cultural norms: a phenomenological inquiry. BMC PSYCHOLOGY, 13(1). doi:10.1186/s40359-025-03264-0
Cost-effectiveness of a technology-assisted peer-delivered perinatal mental health intervention in Pakistan: an economic evaluation using trial evidence
Gibbs, N. K., Chen, T., Malik, A., Nazir, H., Nisar, A., Waqas, A., . . . Walker, S. M. (2025). Cost-effectiveness of a technology-assisted peer-delivered perinatal mental health intervention in Pakistan: an economic evaluation using trial evidence. BMJ GLOBAL HEALTH, 10(11). doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2025-020833
The Development and Evaluation of a Digital Platform for Management of Perinatal Depression by Nurses in China
Nisar, A. (2025, October 7). The Development and Evaluation of a Digital Platform for Management of Perinatal Depression by Nurses in China. (University of Liverpool).
Technology-assisted cognitive-behavioral therapy for perinatal depression delivered by lived-experience peers: a cluster-randomized noninferiority trial
Rahman, A., Malik, A., Nazir, H., Zaidi, A., Nisar, A., Waqas, A., . . . Wang, D. (2025). Technology-assisted cognitive-behavioral therapy for perinatal depression delivered by lived-experience peers: a cluster-randomized noninferiority trial. Nature Medicine. doi:10.1038/s41591-025-03655-1
Technology-assisted cognitive-behavioral therapy for perinatal depression delivered by lived-experience peers: a cluster-randomized noninferiority trial
Waqas, A. (n.d.). Technology-assisted cognitive-behavioral therapy for perinatal depression delivered by lived-experience peers: a cluster-randomized noninferiority trial.
Beyond the clinical threshold: unseen struggles of Chinese primiparas in postpartum transition——A phenomenological exploration
Acceptability and efficacy of the culturally adapted Problem Management Plus intervention for people with disability in Pakistan: A pilot cluster randomized controlled trial
Hussain, B., Khalily, M. T., Waqas, A., Rahman, A., Angelakis, I., Nisar, A., . . . Akhtar, T. (2025). Acceptability and efficacy of the culturally adapted Problem Management Plus intervention for people with disability in Pakistan: A pilot cluster randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in Psychiatry-Public Mental Health. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1413809
2024
Impact of an intervention for perinatal anxiety on breastfeeding: findings from the Happy Mother-Healthy Baby randomized controlled trial in Pakistan
Nisar, A., Xiang, H., Perin, J., Malik, A., Zaidi, A., Atif, N., . . . Surkan, P. J. (2024). Impact of an intervention for perinatal anxiety on breastfeeding: findings from the Happy Mother-Healthy Baby randomized controlled trial in Pakistan. INTERNATIONAL BREASTFEEDING JOURNAL, 19(1). doi:10.1186/s13006-024-00655-8
Profiles and associated factors of prenatal psychological symptoms and their association with health-related quality of life among pregnant women: a cross-sectional study
Huo, L., Li, X., Yu, X., Nisar, A., & Yang, L. (2024). Profiles and associated factors of prenatal psychological symptoms and their association with health-related quality of life among pregnant women: a cross-sectional study. BMJ OPEN, 14(10). doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2024-087535
“Do traditional customs brought support or obstacles during the first postpartum year?” : A qualitative investigation on perceived barriers of primiparas in the context of Chinese culture.
Integrating WHO thinking healthy programme for maternal mental health into routine antenatal care in China: a randomized-controlled pilot trial
Nisar, A., Yin, J., Zhang, J., Qi, W., Yu, J., Li, J., . . . Rahman, A. (2025). Integrating WHO thinking healthy programme for maternal mental health into routine antenatal care in China: a randomized-controlled pilot trial. Frontiers in Global Women's Health, 5. doi:10.3389/fgwh.2024.1475430
The construction and validation of the novel nomograms for the risk prediction of prenatal depression: a cross-sectional study
Huo, L., Yu, X., Nisar, A., Yang, L., & Li, X. (2024). The construction and validation of the novel nomograms for the risk prediction of prenatal depression: a cross-sectional study. FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY, 15. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1478565
2023
Technology-assisted cognitive-behavior therapy delivered by peers versus standard cognitive behavior therapy delivered by community health workers for perinatal depression: study protocol of a cluster randomized controlled non-inferiority trial.
Rahman, A., Malik, A., Atif, N., Nazir, H., Zaidi, A., Nisar, A., . . . Sikander, S. (2023). Technology-assisted cognitive-behavior therapy delivered by peers versus standard cognitive behavior therapy delivered by community health workers for perinatal depression: study protocol of a cluster randomized controlled non-inferiority trial.. Trials, 24(1), 555. doi:10.1186/s13063-023-07581-w
Development and validation of a perinatal depression-assisted training system
尹娟., Nisar, A., 齐文丽., 于洁., 杨雅婷., & Rahman, A. (2023). Development and validation of a perinatal depression-assisted training system. International Journal of Nursing, 42(16), 2881-2886. doi:10.3760/cma.j.cn221370-20220422-00705
Adaptation and integration of the thinking healthy programme into pregnancy schools in Istanbul, Turkey.
Boran, P., Dönmez, M., Atif, N., Nisar, A., Barış, E., Us, M. C., . . . Rahman, A. (2023). Adaptation and integration of the thinking healthy programme into pregnancy schools in Istanbul, Turkey.. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 23(1), 245. doi:10.1186/s12884-023-05572-y
Prevalence of perinatal anxiety and its determinants in mainland China: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Yang, L., Sun, J., Nan, Y., Waqas, A., Nisar, A., Wang, D., . . . Li, X. (2023). Prevalence of perinatal anxiety and its determinants in mainland China: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 323, 193-203. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2022.11.075
Delivering the Thinking Healthy Programme as a universal group intervention integrated into routine antenatal care: a randomized-controlled pilot study
Boran, P., Dönmez, M., Barış, E., Us, M. C., Altaş, Z. M., Nisar, A., . . . Rahman, A. (2023). Delivering the Thinking Healthy Programme as a universal group intervention integrated into routine antenatal care: a randomized-controlled pilot study. BMC Psychiatry, 23(1). doi:10.1186/s12888-022-04499-6
2022
Delivering the Thinking Healthy Programme as a universal group intervention integrated into routine antenatal care: a randomized-controlled pilot study
Standardising Training of Nurses in an Evidence-Based Psychosocial Intervention for Perinatal Depression: Randomized Trial of Electronic vs. Face-to-Face Training in China
Nisar, A., Yin, J., Nan, Y., Luo, H., Han, D., Yang, L., . . . Li, X. (2022). Standardising Training of Nurses in an Evidence-Based Psychosocial Intervention for Perinatal Depression: Randomized Trial of Electronic vs. Face-to-Face Training in China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH, 19(7). doi:10.3390/ijerph19074094
2021
IMPROVING ACCESS TO PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS FOR PERINATAL DEPRESSION IN LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES: LESSONS FROM THE FIELD
Rahman, A., Sikander, S., Waqas, A., Nisar, A., Sikander, H., & Atif, N. (2021). IMPROVING ACCESS TO PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS FOR PERINATAL DEPRESSION IN LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES: LESSONS FROM THE FIELD. In JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY Vol. 60 (pp. S288). doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2021.07.667
Scalable Screening and Treatment Response Monitoring for Perinatal Depression in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Waqas, A., Malik, A., Atif, N., Nisar, A., Nazir, H., Sikander, S., & Rahman, A. (2021). Scalable Screening and Treatment Response Monitoring for Perinatal Depression in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH, 18(13). doi:10.3390/ijerph18136693
Improving access to psychosocial interventions for perinatal depression in low- and middle-income countries: lessons from the field.
Rahman, A., Waqas, A., Nisar, A., Nazir, H., Sikander, S., & Atif, N. (2020). Improving access to psychosocial interventions for perinatal depression in low- and middle-income countries: lessons from the field.. International Review of Psychiatry. doi:10.1080/09540261.2020.1772551
2020
Prevalence of perinatal depression and its determinants in Mainland China: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Nisar, A., Yin, J., Waqas, A., Bai, X., Wang, D., Rahman, A., & Li, X. (2020). Prevalence of perinatal depression and its determinants in Mainland China: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2020.07.046
Integrating psychological interventions into maternal healthcare services: adaptation and feasibility testing of thinking healthy programme
Yin, J., Zhang, J., Nisar, A., Li, J., Yang, L., Nan, Y., . . . Li, X. (2020). Integrating psychological interventions into maternal healthcare services: adaptation and feasibility testing of thinking healthy programme. International Journal of Nursing, 39(22), 4040-4046. doi:10.3760/cma.j.cn221370-20191206-01237
Professional support during the postpartum period: primiparous mothers' views on professional services and their expectations, and barriers to utilizing professional help.
Nan, Y., Zhang, J., Nisar, A., Huo, L., Yang, L., Yin, J., . . . Li, X. (2020). Professional support during the postpartum period: primiparous mothers' views on professional services and their expectations, and barriers to utilizing professional help.. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 20(1). doi:10.1186/s12884-020-03087-4
Professional support during the postpartum period: Primiparous mothers' views on professional services, their expectations, and barriers to utilizing professional help
Measuring the implementation strength of a perinatal mental health intervention delivered by peer volunteers in rural Pakistan
Ahmad, I., Suleman, N., Waqas, A., Atif, N., Malik, A. A., Bibi, A., . . . Sikander, S. (2020). Measuring the implementation strength of a perinatal mental health intervention delivered by peer volunteers in rural Pakistan. BEHAVIOUR RESEARCH AND THERAPY, 130. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2020.103559
Making therapies culturally relevant: translation, cultural adaptation and field-testing of the Thinking Healthy Programme for perinatal depression in China
Nisar, A., Yin, J., Yiping, N., Lanting, H., Zhang, J., Wang, D., . . . Li, X. (2020). Making therapies culturally relevant: translation, cultural adaptation and field-testing of the Thinking Healthy Programme for perinatal depression in China. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 20. doi:10.1186/s12884-020-03044-1
Psychosocial interventions on perinatal depression in China: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Yin, J., Nisar, A., Waqas, A., Guo, Y., Qi, W. L., Wang, D., . . . Li, X. (2020). Psychosocial interventions on perinatal depression in China: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 271, 310-327. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2020.03.019
Professional support during the postpartum period: Primiparous mothers’ views on professional services and their expectations, and barriers to utilizing professional help.
Professional support during the postpartum period: Primiparous mothers' views on professional services, their expectations, and barriers to mobilizing professional help
2019
Professional support during the postpartum period: Primiparous women’s views on professional services, their expectations, and barriers to mobilizing professional help
Delivering maternal mental health through peer volunteers: a 5-year report
Atif, N., Bibi, A., Nisar, A., Zulfiqar, S., Ahmed, I., LeMasters, K., . . . Rahman, A. (2019). Delivering maternal mental health through peer volunteers: a 5-year report. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS, 13(1). doi:10.1186/s13033-019-0318-3
Using technology to scale-up training and supervision of community health workers in the psychosocial management of perinatal depression: a non-inferiority, randomised controlled trial
Rahman, A., Akhter, P., Hamdani, S., Atif, N., Nazir, H., Uddin, I., . . . Zafar, S. (2019). Using technology to scale-up training and supervision of community health workers in the psychosocial management of perinatal depression: a non-inferiority, randomised controlled trial. Global Mental Health.
Effectiveness of a brief group psychological intervention for women in a post-conflict setting in Pakistan: a single blind, cluster, randomised controlled trial
Rahman, A. (2019). Effectiveness of a brief group psychological intervention for women in a post-conflict setting in Pakistan: a single blind, cluster, randomised controlled trial. The Lancet, 393(10182), 1733-1744. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32343-2
Delivering the Thinking Healthy Programme for Perinatal Depression Through Volunteer Peers: A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial in Pakistan
Sikander, S., Ahmad, I., Atif, N., Zaidi, A., Vanobberghen, F., Weiss, H. A., . . . Rahman, A. (2019). Delivering the Thinking Healthy Programme for Perinatal Depression Through Volunteer Peers: A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial in Pakistan. The Lancet Psychiatry, 6(2), 128-139. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30467-X
Scaling-up psychological interventions in resource-poor settings: training and supervising peer volunteers to deliver the 'Thinking Healthy Programme' for perinatal depression in rural Pakistan
Atif, N., Nisar, A., Bibi, A., Khan, S., Zulfiqar, S., Ahmad, I., . . . Rahman, A. (2019). Scaling-up psychological interventions in resource-poor settings: training and supervising peer volunteers to deliver the 'Thinking Healthy Programme' for perinatal depression in rural Pakistan. GLOBAL MENTAL HEALTH, 6. doi:10.1017/gmh.2019.4
2017
Mother-to-mother therapy in India and Pakistan: adaptation and feasibility evaluation of the peer-delivered Thinking Healthy Programme
Atif, N., Krishna, R. N., Sikander, S., Lazarus, A., Nisar, A., Ahmad, I., . . . Rahman, A. (2017). Mother-to-mother therapy in India and Pakistan: adaptation and feasibility evaluation of the peer-delivered Thinking Healthy Programme. BMC PSYCHIATRY, 17. doi:10.1186/s12888-017-1244-z
2014
"Someone like us": delivering maternal mental health through peers in two South Asian contexts.
Singla, D., Lazarus, A., Atif, N., Sikander, S., Bhatia, U., Ahmad, I., . . . Rahman, A. (2014). "Someone like us": delivering maternal mental health through peers in two South Asian contexts.. Journal of affective disorders, 168, 452-458. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2014.07.017
"Someone like us": Delivering maternal mental health through peers in two South Asian contexts
Singla, D., Lazarus, A., Atif, N., Sikander, S., Bhatia, U., Ahmad, I., . . . Rahman, A. (2014). "Someone like us": Delivering maternal mental health through peers in two South Asian contexts. JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS, 168, 452-458. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2014.07.017