Dr. Rachel Sabbagh was recently featured on the Clinical Advisor website for her DNP project,  Individual and Group Therapy Equally Effective for Perinatal Depression and Anxiety. A video of Dr. Sabbagh describing her project was posted on their website here. Dr. Sabbagh also presented her DNP project poster at the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA)'s annual conference this month and earlier this year, gave a podium presentation of the project at the UCLA Nursing Science & Innovation Conference. Dr. Sabbagh has had a busy year, also presenting the project at the Western Institute of Nursing (WIN) and the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) conferences.

"I chose to focus my project on perinatal depression and anxiety," said Dr. Sabbagh, "because I am deeply passionate about women’s mental health. Through my work in psychiatric and mental health settings, I have seen firsthand how profoundly mental illness can affect mothers during pregnancy and after childbirth, as well as the lasting impact it can have on their infants. Perinatal women are a particularly vulnerable population, and I wanted to address the gap between what research shows to be effective and what is actually practiced in clinical settings."

"My project compared the effectiveness of individual versus group psychotherapy for women experiencing perinatal depression and anxiety. The results were very promising, as both approaches significantly reduced depression and anxiety symptoms and improved women’s perceived social support. This finding is especially important because group psychotherapy is more cost effective, which means it can help make mental health care more accessible to women who need it most."

Dr. Sabbagh's project supports the mental health of perinatal women in the future by offering an evidence based model that can be integrated into a variety of clinical, community, and virtual or hybrid care settings. "By showing that both individual and group psychotherapy are equally effective in reducing depression and anxiety symptoms," said Dr. Sabbagh, "the project provides a strong foundation for developing more accessible, cost effective, and scalable treatment options. Delivering therapy through virtual or hybrid formats can help reach women who face barriers such as childcare demands, transportation, or limited local resources. In addition, group based approaches promote social connection and support, which are key protective factors for emotional well being during the perinatal period. This project emphasizes how nurses and mental health professionals can expand access to care using flexible delivery models, ultimately improving early detection, treatment, and long term outcomes for mothers and their children."

Along with her DNP committee chair, Dr. Kristen Choi, Dr. Sabbagh also wrote a the commentary article,  An Overlooked Crisis: Natural Disasters and Maternal Mental Health, published in the October 2025 issue of Nursing for Women's Health. 

Dr. Sabbagh is currently in the process of submitting her DNP project manuscript to the Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (JAPNA) for publication.  Dr. Sabbagh's next goal is to present her project at an international conference to further expand the reach and impact of her work and contribute to global discussions on perinatal mental health.

Dr. Sabbagh holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a minor in Psychology, a Master’s degree in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing from the American University of Beirut (where she was selected to complete her residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore), and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). She is a Registered Nurse and Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (PMHCNS-BC). Dr. Sabbagh's training includes coursework in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), as well as certifications in Individual Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) and Group or Community Based IPT. 

Dr. Sabbagh began her career as a Neuro ICU nurse, where her fascination with the brain and human behavior led her to transition into psychiatry. Since then, she has worked as both an inpatient psychiatric nurse and an advanced practice psychiatric nurse in several countries, including Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. Currently, Dr. Sabbagh serves as a Senior Mental Health Clinician in the Emergency Department, conducting comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, initiating LPS holds (5150 and 5585) when indicated, and providing liaison psychiatry services. 

Outside of work, Dr. Sabbagh volunteers at a shelter for homeless pregnant women, where she leads monthly psychoeducation sessions and assists in their thrift shop. "I find my volunteer work grounding and restorative, a mindful way to recharge my own mind and heart," shared Dr. Sabbagh.

Congratulations on your many accomplishments, Dr. Sabbagh!