Paranoia Doctors Abroad — Page 2

Assistant Professor Elvan Ciftci combines clinical psychiatry with a PhD in neuroscience to treat complex mental health conditions at NP Istanbul Brain Hospital.

• Specialises in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to manage paranoid thoughts and delusional patterns
• Trained at Hacettepe University – one of Turkey's most prestigious medical research institutions
• Uses supportive psychotherapy and mindfulness techniques to help patients process trauma and anxiety
• Fellowship trained in psychoanalytic and motivational therapy techniques for long-term recovery

Dr. Ceylan Ergul Arslan is an associate professor of psychiatry at NP Istanbul Brain Hospital. She specializes in addiction treatment and psychosis epidemiology. Dr. Arslan is currently conducting research at the Maastricht University School of Mental Health in the Netherlands. She works at NP Istanbul, which is Europe’s second-ranked brain hospital.

• Treats complex conditions including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and chronic depression.
• Focuses on alcoholism treatment and alcohol abuse examinations.
• Uses diagnostic tools such as EEG and brain MRI for personalized care.
• Practices at a JCI-accredited facility known for neuro-psychiatric expertise.

Professor Nevzat Tarhan is a pioneer in neuropsychiatry who founded the NP Istanbul Brain Hospital and currently serves as the rector of Uskudar University.

• Specialises in psychopharmacology – using targeted medication to manage severe psychological symptoms
• Authored over 150 research articles and 30 books on mental health and stress management
• Recipient of the Golden Axon Leadership Award for his contributions to brain research
• Completed his medical training at Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty

Dr. Fatma Duygu Kaya Yertutanol is a psychiatrist and neuroscientist at NP Istanbul Brain Hospital. She holds a PhD in neuroscience from Gazi University. Dr. Yertutanol treats schizophrenia, psychotic disorders, and addiction. She works at Turkey’s first JCI-accredited neuropsychiatric hospital.

• Sits on the editorial boards of two medical journals since 2010.
• Completed two TUBITAK research projects on neurobehavioral science.
• Winner of national and international awards for her scientific research.
• Member of the NPFUAM Board and the Psychiatric Association of Turkey.

Professor Firdevs Seyfe Sen is a specialist psychiatrist at NP Istanbul Brain Hospital who uses psychodrama and TMU therapy to treat complex psychotic disorders.

• Specialises in psychotic disorders including paranoia and delusional thinking
• Expert in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMU) – non-invasive brain stimulation for treatment-resistant cases
• Completed specialised training in psychoanalysis and social skills for schizophrenia
• Certified psychodrama therapist from the Abdulkadir Ozbek Psychodrama Institute
• Qualified in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for managing thought distortions

Dr. Melek Gozde Lus is a child psychiatrist at NP Istanbul Brain Hospital. She contributed to Turkey’s Autism Action Plan. She trained family physicians on early autism detection. Dr. Lus treats ADHD, autism, and dyslexia. She also manages anxiety and OCD in children and adolescents.

• Member of the American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
• Holds international certification in schema therapy.
• Specially trained in CBT-based play therapy and filial therapy.
• Authored research on bipolar co-diagnosis in children with ADHD.

Prof. Dr. Engin Emrem Beştepe is a psychiatrist. She graduated from the Ankara University Faculty of Medicine. She completed her psychiatry residency at Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital. She completed a family therapy fellowship at the University of Chicago Center for Family Health in 1999.

She worked at Bakırköy Prof. Dr. Mazhar Osman Mental and Nervous Diseases Training and Research Hospital from 1997 to 2013. She became an Associate Professor of Psychiatry in 2012. In 2013, she was appointed Education Officer at Erenköy Hospital. She headed the Women’s Ward from 2013 to 2026. In 2021, she was appointed Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at SBÜ.

Dr. Emine Yagmur Zorbozan is a psychiatrist. She graduated from Eskişehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine. She completed psychiatry specialty training in 2019 at Istanbul Erenköy Mental and Neurological Diseases Hospital. Her thesis was a controlled study on substance addiction. It compared frontal functions in synthetic cannabinoid and opioid use disorders.

Her practice includes Elazığ Mental Health Hospital (closed psychiatry, AMATEM). She also worked at Bursa City Hospital (outpatient, inpatient, high-security forensic psychiatry). She served as a trainer-of-trainers for Driver Behavior Improvement programs with the Ministry of Health.

Uzm. Dr. Gunay Hajiyeva is a psychiatrist. She graduated from Azerbaijan Medical University in 2013. She completed her psychiatry residency at Cukurova University Balcali Hospital in 2021. She received training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), EMDR, and Dynamic Sexual Therapy.

Her clinical focus includes schizophrenia, mood disorders, trauma, anxiety, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, alcohol and substance use disorders, and sexual dysfunction. She speaks English, Russian, and German. She is active in academic and clinical research. She has presented at national and international congresses.

Professor Sermin Kesebir specialises in psychoneurophysiology at NP Istanbul Brain Hospital – a facility dedicated to complex brain and mental health conditions.

• Treats psychiatric disorders using psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy to address deep-seated emotional issues
• Expert in managing bipolar and depressive disorders that often involve paranoid symptoms
• Contributes to clinical research published in international peer-reviewed journals
• Trained at Ege University and Dokuz Eylül University – top-tier Turkish medical institutions
• Presents scientific findings on complex psychiatric cases at global medical conferences

Dr. Nihal Tastekin is a psychiatrist at NP Istanbul Brain Hospital. She specializes in addiction treatment and anxiety disorders. Her research focuses on computer-assisted cognitive improvement for opioid use disorder. She uses dynamic psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy to treat patients.

• Experienced in AMATEM clinic outpatient and inpatient addiction care.
• Treats complex mental health conditions, including paranoia and depression.
• Expert in cognitive remediation and mood disorder management.
• Works at Turkey’s first JCI-certified private neuropsychiatric hospital.

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.

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. 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.

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.