Specialist Dr. Yaprak Arslan Psychiatrist & Psychotherapist

I was born in 1981 in the Korkuteli district of Antalya as the second child of two teachers. I completed my elementary, middle, and high school education in Antalya. After graduating from Kocaeli University School of Medicine in 2006 and earning the title of “Doctor of Medicine,” I completed my mandatory service as a general practitioner at the Kocaeli Körfez Çamtepe Health Center from 2006 to 2008. As someone who has always enjoyed interacting with people, my interest in psychiatry began during my psychiatry rotation in medical school, and it was during that time that I decided to become a psychiatrist. In 2013, I completed my residency training in the Department of Psychiatry at Dokuz Eylül University School of Medicine. During my residency, I participated in numerous studies in the areas of mood disorders (bipolar disorder, recurrent depression, major depression), obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety disorders. I wrote my residency thesis on “The Relationship Between Brain Trophic Factors in Mood Disorders and Thyroid Function, Vitamin B12, and Folic Acid.” After completing my mandatory service as a Psychiatrist at Rize Kaçkar State Hospital from 2014 to 2015, I worked at Alsancak State Hospital from 2015 to 2019 and at the Psychiatry Clinic of Tınaztepe Galen Private Hospital from 2019 to 2022.

During this time:

* Turkish Psychiatric Association Supportive Psychotherapy Training (2017–2019)
* CETAD Psychotherapy Training for Sexual Dysfunctions (2017–2021)
* Institute of Behavioral Sciences EMDR Level I Training (2019)
* Supportive Psychotherapy Supervision Program, Prof. Dr. Cem Kaptanoğlu (2024–2025)
* Supportive Psychotherapy Supervision Program, Prof. Dr. Cem Kaptanoğlu (2025–2026)

I completed my training in psychotherapy, specializing in supportive psychotherapy, sex therapy, and EMDR. In addition, I continue to keep my knowledge and clinical experience up to date by participating in supervision programs in the field of supportive psychotherapy.

Since September 2022, I have been practicing as a psychiatrist and psychotherapist at my own clinic in Bayraklı, Izmir.

I enjoy drawing and designing, nature and history tours, reading, movies, animals, and gardening.

Master’s Thesis

The Relationship Between Brain Trophic Factors in Mood Disorders and Thyroid Function, Vitamin B12, and Folic Acid

(Advisor: Prof. Dr. Zeliha Tunca)

Scientific Research Award

• Bipolar Disorders Association Scientific Research Project Support Award, 2008

The Role of Glial-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in the Neurobiology of Bipolar and Unipolar Disorders: A Prospective Controlled Study

Seminars and Courses

• Introduction to Statistical Analysis and Intermediate-Level Statistical Analysis Training, Kimera – 2008
• Local Investigator Meeting (as part of a quality study: Lithium vs. Quetiapine non-superiority trial), AstraZeneca – 2009
• Course on Research Planning and Analysis Methods, DEU Faculty of Medicine – 2009
• Structured Clinical Interview Training for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-IV), 2008
• 13th Turkish Psychiatric Association Clinical Education Symposium, 2009
• 15th Turkish Psychiatric Association Clinical Education Symposium, 2011
• 16th Turkish Psychiatric Association Clinical Education Symposium, 2012
• World Psychiatric Association International Congress, WPA 2013
• 45th National Psychiatry Congress and Symposium on Sexual Dysfunctions
• 46th National Psychiatry Congress and Course on Medical Approaches in Addiction Treatment
• 48th National Psychiatry Congress
• 10th International Conference on Bipolar Disorders, 2013, (Miami Beach, Florida, USA)
• 5th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders, 2012
• Rational Use of Medications, DEU Faculty of Medicine, 2010
• Depression Institute Seminar, 2012
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Workshop for Anxiety Disorders, M. Zihni Sungur, 2009
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Training for Patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Hakan Türkçapar, 2010
• Institute of Substance Abuse, Toxicology, and Pharmaceutical Sciences “Addiction Course” Training, 2011
• 13th Izmir Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy Days, Odağ Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy Training Center, “Feminine-Masculine Identity” Seminar, 2011
• Substance Abuse Physician Training, Ministry of Health, General Directorate of Health Services, 2016

Scientific Research, Presentations, Posters, and Publications

• Hıdıroğlu C, Gürz Yalçın Ş, Bağcı B, Yalçın Arslan Y, Tunca Z, Özerdem A, “Impulsivity in Euthymic Patients with Bipolar Disorder and Their First-Degree Relatives: A Comparative Study with Healthy Controls,” 45th National Congress of Psychiatry
• Yalçın Arslan Y, Bağcı B, Gürz Yalçın S, Alkın T “Case Report: Compulsive Hoarding,” TPD 13th Spring Symposium
• Safari R, Tunca Z, Ozerdem A, Ceylan D, Yalçın Arslan Y, Sakızlı M “Glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor gene polymorphisms affect the severity and functionality of bipolar disorder” Journal of Integrative Neuroscience 16(4): 471-481, September 2017
• Tunca Z, Ozerdem A, Ceylan D, Yalçın Arslan Y, Can G, Resmi H..“Alterations in BDNF and GDNF serum levels in bipolar disorder: the role of lithium” Journal of Affective Disorders 166: 193-200, September 2014
• Yalçın Arslan Y, Ceylan D, Ozerdem A, Resmi H, Tunca Z..“Interaction between BDNF levels and thyroid hormones in adult bipolar disorder patients”, 10th International Conference on Bipolar Disorder, Volume 15, June 2013
• Yalın N, Yalçın Arslan Y, Ozerdem A..“Female Gender Vulnerability Regarding Lipid Profiles in Inpatients with Unipolar and Bipolar Depression”, 10th International Conference on Bipolar Disorder, Volume 15, June 2013
• Yalçın Arslan Y, Yalın N, Ozerdem A,..“Comparison of serum folic acid levels between bipolar and unipolar depression”, 10th International Conference on Bipolar Disorder, Volume 15, June 2013
• Ceylan D, Ozerdem A, Gürz Yalçın S, Hıdıroğlu Ongun C, Yalçın Arslan Y... “Can serum BDNF levels be identified as a candidate endophenotype in bipolar disorder?”, ISBD Volume: Bipolar Disord. 2012;14:66
• Hıdıroğlu Ongun C, Gürz Yalçın S, Bagci B, Yalçın Arslan Y.. “Risk-taking behavior in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder and their first-degree relatives”, 4th Biennial Conference of the. Volume: 12