Best Schizophrenia Doctors in Istanbul for Australians

Dr Pelin Tas Durmus has performed over 1,100 treatments at Moodist Psychiatry and Neurology Hospital, focusing on clinical psychiatry and rehabilitative care.

• Specialises in managing complex psychiatric cases through multidisciplinary team evaluations
• Published research on therapeutic outcomes in the British Journal of Occupational Therapy
• Experienced in clinical protocols for long-term mental health management
• Coordinates care plans with a specialist team of psychologists and physicians

Dr Yusuf has conducted over 900 psychiatric procedures at Moodist Psychiatry and Neurology Hospital, focusing on personalised treatment plans for mental health disorders.

• Specialises in psychiatry with a focus on comprehensive mental health management
• Personally reviews every patient case to build an individualised treatment programme
• Based at a dedicated psychiatry and neurology hospital for specialised care
• Practises as a core member of the clinical psychiatry team in Istanbul

Dr. Cagdas Yokusoglu is a consultant psychiatrist with over 12 years of clinical experience. He specializes in adult psychiatry and evidence-based psychotherapy. He graduated from the English Medicine Program at Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University. He completed his psychiatry residency at Istanbul Faculty of Medicine.

He has worked in public and private settings. He now provides psychiatric assessment and psychotherapy in private practice. His care is individualized and evidence-based, covering a wide range of psychiatric disorders.

His advanced training includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Existential Analysis, and psychopharmacology.

Dr. Özge Yükselay is a psychiatrist. She earned her medical degree from Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine. She completed her residency at Erenköy Mental and Nervous Diseases Hospital. She has worked at Van Regional Training and Research Hospital, Erenköy Mental and Nervous Diseases Hospital, and Moodist Neuropsychiatry Hospital. She brings broad clinical experience.

She combines psychotherapy with medical treatment. She also uses somatic therapies such as TMS, ECT, tDCS, and neurofeedback. Her practice includes depression, OCD, anxiety disorders, addiction, psychotic disorders, and mood disorders. She is interested in group therapy and psychodrama. She has a special focus on individual and group therapy for eating disorders.

Prof. Dr. Vehbi Alp Üçok is a psychiatrist who focuses on schizophrenia and mood disorders. He graduated from the Hacettepe Faculty of Medicine in 1985. He started his psychiatry residency at the Istanbul Faculty of Medicine in 1988. He became a specialist in 1993, an associate professor in 1995, and a professor in 2001.

He founded the Psychotic Disorders Research Program (PAP) at the Istanbul Faculty of Medicine in 1996. After psychosocial skills training at UCLA and the Brentwood VA in 1998, he set up inpatient and outpatient group therapy for psychosis. He also provided individual, family, and group psychotherapy.

His research covers first-episode and later schizophrenia, people at risk for psychosis, treatment-resistant schizophrenia, and stigma. He helped start the WPA schizophrenia anti-stigma program in Türkiye in 1998 and has been the Turkey coordinator since 2001. He is a member of the WPA Schizophrenia and Stigma sections, the European Psychiatric Association Schizophrenia Section, TRRIP, STRATA, and EURONES. He has 126 international articles and more than 5,000 citations (as of 14.11.2014). His Web of Science h-index is 35.

Prof. Dr. Mustafa Solmaz is a board-certified psychiatrist. He earned his M.D. from Hacettepe University in 1989. He completed his psychiatry residency at Bakırköy Mental and Neurological Diseases Hospital in 1996. He became an associate professor in 2014 and a professor in 2021.

From 2015 to 2020, he chaired the 4th Specialized Board of the Council of Forensic Medicine. He oversaw evaluations of criminal responsibility and legal competency.

He served on the psychiatry faculty at the Hamidiye Faculty of Medicine, University of Health Sciences. He was an educational supervisor at the Psychiatry Clinic of Bağcılar Training and Research Hospital. He is currently the chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Beykent University Faculty of Medicine.

Dr. Neşe Üstün is a psychiatry specialist at Bakırköy Mental and Neurological Diseases Hospital, a role she has held since 2002. Earlier, she worked in clinical biochemistry at Istanbul University Çapa (1995–1996) and in neurology in 1996. She graduated from Uludağ University Faculty of Medicine. She later qualified as Chief Assistant after passing written and oral exams and submitting a publication portfolio.

She will continue her work at Bakırköy through 2025. She provides patient care, trains assistants, supervises theses, and conducts research. She has published in national and international journals and has presented many papers. She has taken part in patient follow-up and research at the Women’s Mental Health Unit and the Mood Disorders Center. She is trained in CBT, psychodynamic psychotherapy, interpersonal therapy, and EMDR. She uses these therapies alongside medication when needed.

Dr. Merve Setenay Gürbüz is a Psychiatry Specialist at Private Moodist Hospital. She completed her psychiatry training at Erenköy Mental and Nervous Diseases Hospital in 2017. She then worked for about two years at GOP Taksim Training and Research Hospital. In 2019, she worked at NP Istanbul Brain Hospital. She also served as an Assistant Professor at Üsküdar University Faculty of Medicine. In 2021, she became the Responsible Manager at Rubi Medical Center. From June 2021, she was an Assistant Professor at İstinye University GOP Medicalpark Hospital and at İstinye University Faculty of Medicine. In 2022, she was appointed Head of the Department of Mental Health and Diseases at İstinye University Faculty of Medicine.

She has written articles and book chapters in Turkey and abroad.

Dr. Merve Gümüşay is a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy. She completed medical school at the Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine. She finished her psychiatry residency at the Bakırköy Prof. Dr. Mazhar Osman Mental Health and Neurological Diseases Training and Research Hospital. She provides evidence-based psychotherapy. Her clinical focus includes depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders, addiction, and women’s mental health.

She is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Supportive Psychotherapy, and Sex Therapy. Dr. Gümüşay is a member of the Turkish Psychiatric Association and the Turkish Medical Association. She contributes to research and publications. She also takes part in national congresses.

Dr. Baris Metin is a neurologist at NP Istanbul Brain Hospital. He has practiced medicine in both Turkey and Belgium. Dr. Metin focuses on memory disorders, epilepsy, and sleep medicine. He treats complex conditions like Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis. His work includes functional neuroimaging and electroencephalography (EEG).

• Expertise in neurological rehabilitation and post-stroke recovery.
• Authored numerous research papers in national and international scientific journals.
• Treats patients at Europe’s second-ranked brain hospital.
• Practices at a JCI-accredited facility using Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.

Dr Elshad Gulmammadov is a psychiatry specialist at NP Istanbul Brain Hospital, a centre known for integrating neurobiology with psychiatric care.

• Trained at Istanbul University – Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty, one of the region's premier medical institutions
• Specialises in managing complex psychiatric illnesses requiring clinical intervention
• Focuses on evidence-based mental health protocols for long-term stability
• Works within a multidisciplinary team at a dedicated brain hospital for coordinated care

Dr Elvin Guliyev trained at Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, one of the region's largest medical schools. He focuses on integrating cognitive behavioural therapy into treatment plans for complex mental health cases.

• Completed specialist residency training at the prestigious Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine
• Uses cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to help patients manage auditory hallucinations and delusions
• Trained under world-renowned psychiatry expert Professor Mehmet Zihni Sungur
• Regularly presents psychiatric research at national and international mental health congresses
• Provides consultations in English, Russian, and Turkish for international patients

Professor Alptekin Cetin holds a doctorate in mental health from Istanbul University Cerrahpasa, one of the region's most prestigious medical institutions. He treats complex psychiatric cases at the JCI-accredited NP Istanbul Brain Hospital.

• Specialises in clinical psychiatry and long-term mental health management
• Completed rigorous medical training at Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine
• Focuses on evidence-based protocols for stabilising chronic psychotic disorders
• Practises at a specialised facility dedicated to neurological and psychiatric sciences

Dr Lale Allahyarova specialises in treating psychotic disorders in young people at NP Istanbul Brain Hospital, Turkey's first neuropsychiatry centre.

• Uses Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to regulate brain activity in treatment-resistant cases
• Oversees genotyping to match medications with a patient's DNA for safer treatment
• Uses EEG and brain MRI to identify structural and functional neurological triggers
• Integrates family-based trauma research to address communication issues and separation

Dr. Bahruz Shukurov is an addiction specialist and adult psychiatrist at NP Istanbul Brain Hospital. He completed his residency at the prestigious Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty. Dr. Shukurov specializes in treating complex behavioral addictions and anxiety disorders. He works at Turkey’s first private neuropsychiatric hospital, which holds JCI accreditation for safety.

• Expert in psychoanalytic and mindfulness-based therapies for mental health disorders.
• Treats substance abuse, gambling addiction, and various behavioral dependencies.
• Authored specialized research on body image disorders in borderline personality patients.
• Uses diagnostic tools for alcohol abuse examinations and personalized treatment planning.

Assistant Professor Elvan Ciftci is a specialist psychiatrist at NP Istanbul Brain Hospital who holds a PhD in neuroscience from Hacettepe University.

• Treats schizophrenia using a mix of clinical psychiatry and advanced neuroscience insights
• Trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help patients manage symptoms
• Uses motivational therapy techniques to improve patient engagement and outcomes
• Completed specialist psychiatric training at Erenköy Mental and Neurological Diseases Hospital
• Recognised as an academic leader at the Faculty of Medicine

Associate Professor Sinem Zeynep Metin serves as the supervisor of the specialized Pink Clinic at NP Istanbul Brain Hospital.

• Completed specialist psychiatry training at the prestigious Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty
• Specialises in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for managing complex psychiatric symptoms
• Qualified therapist in sexual health and psychosomatic disorders involving the mind-body connection
• Lecturer at Uskudar University training the next generation of psychology professionals
• Publishes research in international scientific journals on modern psychiatric care