Psychiatry is a branch of medicine that focuses on diagnosing, treating, and preventing mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders.

The Turkish Psychiatric Association (PAT) is an organization of adult psychiatry specialists and residents in Turkey. It aims to provide and promote the scientific development of psychiatry according to ethical standards in clinical practice and research, improve psychiatric training, patient rights, and treatment standards, and develop and monitor mental health policies and practices in Turkey.

What are the advantages of a hospital Psychiatry in Turkey?

A hospital for psychiatry in Turkey provides the best treatment services under the supervision of a team of doctors from different specialties. The center also provides an integrated environment equipped with spacious facilities. The hospital has the latest medical equipment and devices, the latest of which is deep brain stimulation (DBS) technology for treating Parkinson’s disease. It is worth noting that all of the above is provided at a relatively low treatment cost.

What are the mental disorders treated by the Centers for Psychiatry in Turkey?

People seek help from the Centers of Psychiatry in Turkey for many reasons. Problems can be sudden, such as a panic attack, frightening hallucinations, suicidal thoughts, or hearing voices, or they can be long-lasting, such as feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or anxiety that don’t improve, causing daily life to become distorted or out of control.

Mood disorders (anxiety and stress)

Anxiety and stress are not primary mental disorders but rather mood disorders and changes. These disorders can cause sweating, feeling restless, and a rapid heartbeat. For example, a person may feel anxious when facing a complex problem at work, before a test, or before making an important decision. Anxiety can give them a boost of energy or help them concentrate.

Depression

Depression is a common mental health condition. Symptoms of depression include feeling sad or hopeless, and the condition can also cause difficulty with thinking, memory, eating, and sleeping. For a person to be diagnosed with clinical depression, the symptoms must last for at least two weeks.

There are several different types of depression, including:

• Peripartum depression: This type of depression occurs during pregnancy or after pregnancy in women. Women experience hormonal, physical, emotional, financial, and social changes after having a baby, and these changes can cause symptoms of postpartum depression.
• Persistent depressive disorder: This is a chronic form of depression that must last for at least two years.
• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD): This type of depression occurs during certain seasons of the year. It usually begins in late fall or early winter and lasts into spring or summer. SAD episodes may also start in late spring or summer. Symptoms of winter SAD can resemble those of major depression. They tend to go away or lessen during the spring and summer.
• Depression with psychosis: This is a type of major depression that is accompanied by psychotic episodes, such as hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that others do not see) or delusions (having fixed but false beliefs). People with depression with psychosis have an increased risk of suicidal thoughts.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a long-term mood disorder that causes extreme changes in mood, energy levels, and patterns of thinking and behavior. Four main types of bipolar disorder involve significant mood swings called episodes, including:

• Bipolar I disorder: People with bipolar I disorder have one or more manic episodes. Most people with bipolar disorder have episodes of mania and depression, but a depressive episode is not necessary for diagnosis.
• Bipolar II disorder: This disorder causes cycles of depression similar to those of bipolar I disorder. A person with bipolar II also has hypomania. The hypomanic episodes are not severe or disruptive. A person with bipolar II disorder is usually able to handle their daily routines.
• Cyclonic disorder: People with cyclothymic disorder have chronically unstable moods, experiencing hypomania and hypo-depression for at least two years.
• Other unspecified bipolar disorder: Symptoms of this type of bipolar disorder do not meet the criteria for one of the different types, but people still have significant and abnormal mood swings.

Treatment of mental disorders in adults

Psychosis treatment

The final treatment of psychosis in the Centers of Psychiatry in Turkey includes a comprehensive approach in which the symptoms of psychosis are treated by combining drug and psychological therapies. This is what we will provide for you at the Psychiatric and Mental Hospital. Specialized medical hospitals in Turkey are distinguished by their significant development in psychiatry due to their cooperation with doctors with considerable experience in this field.

Treatment of psychosis depends primarily on the underlying cause. Treating the underlying cause is often the only treatment required in these cases. For psychosis that requires direct treatment, there are several approaches:

• Medications: Conventional antipsychotics, such as haloperidol and chlorpromazine, these medications reduce the positive symptoms of psychosis, such as hallucinations, delusions, and disturbances in thinking, and atypical antipsychotics, such as risperidone and Abilify, these medications improve the negative symptoms of psychosis such as low mood and social isolation.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): This type of psychotherapy can help with some mental health conditions that can cause psychosis.
• Inpatient treatment: Especially for severe cases of psychosis and when the person poses a danger to themselves or others, inpatient treatment or a specialized facility is necessary in this case.
• Support or care programs: Many people suffer from psychosis due to other conditions such as alcohol or drug use disorders and personality disorders. Treating these disorders or helping people with social, work, and family programs can sometimes reduce the impact of psychosis and related conditions. These programs can also make it easier for people to manage psychosis and their underlying condition.

Schizophrenia Treatment

Specialists in the Centers of Psychiatry in Turkey perform it. The treatment team includes a psychiatrist, a social worker, a psychiatric nurse, and a case manager to coordinate care.

Antipsychotics are the primary drug treatment for schizophrenia and are thought to control symptoms mainly by affecting the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain.

Since schizophrenia medications can cause side effects, people with schizophrenia may not want to take them. The psychiatrist monitors for side effects and, in some cases, may order blood work. The choice of medication can be guided to avoid some unwanted side effects. Second-generation antipsychotic medications may have fewer side effects related to muscle movements.

First-generation antipsychotics include:

• Chlorpromazine
• Fluphenazine
• Haloperidol (Haldol)
• Perphenazine (Trilafon)
• Long-acting injectable antipsychotics

Newer second-generation antipsychotics available in tablet or capsule form include:

• Aripiprazole (Abilify)
• Asenapine (Saphris)
• Brexpiprazole (Rexulti)

Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. The traumatic event may be life-threatening or pose a significant threat to physical, emotional, or spiritual well-being. There are several ways to treat the disorder:

Psychotherapy (talk therapy)

The primary treatment for PTSD is psychotherapy, particularly forms of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

This method is used in the Centers of Psychiatry in Turkey to stimulate the body’s natural healing ability. Specific questions are asked about a particular disturbing memory. Then, eye movements, such as those that occur during REM sleep, are recreated simply by asking the patient to watch the therapist’s finger move back and forth across the patient’s visual field. Sometimes, a strip of moving lights or headphones is used instead. The eye movements will continue for a short period and then stop. The patient is then asked to report their experiences during each set of these eye movements. Experiences during the session may include changes in thoughts, images, and feelings. With repeated sets of eye movements, the memory tends to change so that it loses its distressing intensity and becomes a neutral memory of a past event. This association of related memories can lead to significant and rapid improvement in many aspects of life.

Treatment of behavioral disorders in children and adolescents

Behavioral disorders are defined as all the actions and responses that a child or adolescent repeatedly makes during his or her interaction with the environment and school so that they are not in line with the standards of expected behavior that are known and applied in the surrounding environment.

Psychotherapy in the Centers of Psychiatry in Turkey can contribute to alleviating the conditions of children suffering from these psychological disorders and helping them overcome them.

Treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental disorders that affect children. Symptoms of ADHD include inattention (inability to maintain focus), hyperactivity (excessive, purposeless movement), and impulsivity (impulsive actions that occur at the moment without thinking). ADHD is a chronic disorder, and it is known to affect the individual in many aspects of his or her life, including academic and professional achievements, personal relationships, and daily functioning. ADHD can lead to poor self-esteem and social function in children when not treated appropriately.

Treatment of ADHD in psychiatric settings typically involves a combination of medication and pharmacologic intervention. For preschool-age children, the recommended first-line approach includes behavioral strategies in the form of parent training.

Psychostimulants (amphetamines and methylphenidate) are first-line pharmacologic treatments for the management of ADHD. In preschool-age patients with ADHD, amphetamines are the only FDA-approved medication. Alpha agonists (clonidine and guanfacine) and the selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor atomoxetine are other FDA-approved options for the treatment of ADHD.

Many children and families may alternate between different medication options depending on the effectiveness of the treatment and how well the medication is tolerated. Treatment aims to improve symptoms and restore functioning at home and school.

Autism Treatment

There are many types of treatments available in the Centers of Psychiatry in Turkey, and these treatments can generally be divided into the following categories, although some treatments include more than one approach:

Behavioral approaches

Behavioral approaches focus on changing behaviors by understanding what happens before and after the condition. Behavioral approaches have the most evidence in treating the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder. They have become widely accepted among healthcare professionals and are used in many schools and treatment clinics. The observed behavioral treatment for people with autism spectrum disorder is applied behavior analysis (ABA). ABA encourages desired behaviors and discourages undesirable behaviors to improve various skills.

Developmental approaches

Developmental approaches focus on improving specific developmental skills, such as language skills, physical skills, or a broad range of interrelated developmental abilities. They are often combined with behavioral approaches.

Occupational therapy

Occupational therapy teaches skills that help a person live as independently as possible. Skills may include dressing, eating, bathing, and dealing with people.

Sensory Integration Therapy

Used to improve sensory responses that may be restricted or overwhelming so that the child can express them appropriately.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy can help improve physical skills, such as fine finger movements or larger trunk and body movements.

Addiction Treatment in Turkey

Addiction is a treatable disorder in the Centers of Psychiatry in Turkey. Research in addiction science and treatment of drug use disorders has led to the development of research-based methods that help people stop using drugs, resume their productive lives, and reach recovery.

Treatment of drug and cannabis addiction

Essential methods used by the Centers for Psychiatry are the following:

• Convincing and motivating the patient to make a self-decision to stop using.
• He will receive support and treatment in all the following stages, during which he will be under medical supervision.
• Conducting comprehensive medical examinations according to the doctor’s estimates of the level of damage that may have resulted from the use, such as a urine test, which will be a periodic test later to monitor abstinence.
• Some patients need antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anti-anxiety medications, primarily if the person uses cannabis and drugs for reasons resulting from stress or anxiety.

Alcohol Addiction Treatment

Treatment depends on the individual condition of the addict. If the condition is severe, the doctor may recommend rehabilitation and admission to a hospital of Psychiatry. Other treatments include:

• Behavioral therapy: This treatment focuses on counseling with addiction counselors to change alcohol addiction behavior.
• Medications: The FDA has approved naltrexone and acamprosate as treatments for alcohol use disorder. Topiramate and gabapentin can also reduce cravings for alcohol in some people.
• Support groups: Support groups are a way to connect with others who have been through the same experience.

Drug Addiction Treatment

Although there is no cure for drug addiction, treatment options at the Centers of Psychiatry can help a patient overcome addiction. Treatment depends on the drug used and the accompanying health or mental disorders.

Drug addiction treatment programs typically offer:

• Individual, group, or family therapy sessions
• Focus on understanding the nature of addiction, getting rid of it, and preventing relapse
• Withdrawal treatment, which is stopping taking the drug as quickly and safely as possible

Withdrawal from different classes of drugs, such as depressants, stimulants, or opioids, has various side effects and requires different approaches. Withdrawal treatment involves gradually reducing the dose of the drug or temporarily substituting other substances, such as methadone, buprenorphine, or a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone.

In the event of an opioid overdose, a drug called naloxone may be given that reverses the effects of opioid drugs.

Addiction treatment may also include taking certain medications. Medications do not cure opioid addiction, but they can aid in recovery. These medications can reduce cravings for opioids and help prevent relapse. Medication treatment options for opioid addiction may include buprenorphine, methadone, naltrexone, and a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone.

Even after completing initial treatment, ongoing treatment and support can help prevent relapse. Follow-up care may include regular appointments with a mental health professional, continuing a self-help program, or attending regular group sessions.

Pornography and Sex Addiction Treatment

This type of addiction can cause intense urges and cravings, along with constant condemnation of the behavior and feelings of remorse. It can even interfere with a person’s professional and personal abilities.

Pornography addiction is challenging to treat because of the easy accessibility and affordability of pornography and because pornography is so pervasive in many aspects of a person’s life that it can be challenging to identify and compulsively consume its content. With increasing time and frequency, it can take years for a family member of the addict to realize there is a problem. However, there are some treatment methods used in the Centers of Psychiatry in Turkey:

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is an excellent way to explore the reasons that led the user to develop an addiction to pornography. Psychotherapy is also known as supportive talk therapy, and it can help the patient understand their relationship with pornography. Many psychotherapy methods exist, such as individual, group, and family counseling. With the help of a psychiatrist, an individual can learn how to identify the reasons that led to their behaviors. Psychotherapy can also effectively treat two disorders at once, known as co-occurring disorders, such as substance abuse coupled with pornography.

Behavioral modification

Behavior modification is a form of therapy that helps patients replace harmful behaviors. Research shows that it has long-lasting effects and can help individuals achieve significant treatment milestones. Depending on the person’s goals, over time, they can learn how to manage their pornography viewing and even stop it altogether. One common form of behavior modification is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). According to the American Psychological Association, CBT is more effective than medication and other psychotherapies.

Pharmacological treatment

It is common for people with addiction to have a co-occurring disorder. Medication-assisted therapy (MAT) is an excellent resource to help address the problem. MAT is a combination of FDA-approved medications with counseling or behavioral therapies. It is an effective treatment for many substance abuse and mental health disorders. Medication alone is not enough to help a patient recover, but it is an excellent resource in combination with other treatments.

A Holistic Approach

Holistic therapy combines conventional and alternative medicine. The goal is to improve health by looking at the whole person, not just the disease. Practitioners who specialize in this type of therapy offer a variety of techniques, including:

• Patient education about lifestyle changes
• Spiritual therapy
• Acupuncture
• Massage therapy
• Physical therapy
• Hypnosis

The main goal in holistic treatments in the Centers of Psychiatry is to encourage patients to take responsibility and achieve long-term recovery.

Video game addiction treatment

This type of addiction is treated in the Centers of Psychiatry in a way that is very similar to pornography treatment, such as:

• Psychotherapy
• Behavioral modification
• Drug therapy
• Following a comprehensive treatment approach

The best hospitals of Psychiatry and addiction treatment centers in Turkey

Turkey is distinguished by the presence of the best hospitals specialized in psychiatry and addiction treatment in the world, including:

• Mizhar Osman Hospital, specialized in psychiatry
• Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine Hospital
• Maşka Omer Burhanoğlu Hospital
• Medipol Mega University Hospital
• Memorial Hospital (Şişli)

The most famous psychiatrists and addiction treatment doctors in Turkey

Turkey is distinguished by the presence of senior specialists in psychiatry and addiction treatment in the world, including:

• Professor Dr. Nisreen Delbaz

The cost of addiction treatment in Turkey

The monthly program in psychiatric and addiction treatment centers costs between 12 and 30 thousand US dollars, which is considered low compared to the prices of similar programs in some European countries.