Zuhal Doğan Bektaş, MD

Zuhal Doğan Bektaş, MD is a psychiatry specialist at Acibadem International Hospital in İstanbul, where she practices within the Psychiatry & Psychology unit. Her clinical work covers the assessment and treatment of patients presenting with mood, anxiety, psychotic and trauma-related disorders, as well as the structured diagnostic evaluation that precedes any treatment decision.

Her practice combines psychiatric diagnostic evaluation, cognitive and mental status assessment, medication management and psychotherapy sessions. Patients may be seen for a single diagnostic opinion or for ongoing care, and treatment plans are reviewed over time according to the individual clinical picture. Care is provided in a hospital setting where psychiatry and psychology services work alongside each other.

Clinical focus

Dr. Bektaş evaluates and treats a range of psychiatric conditions. Her areas of expertise include:

• Major depressive disorder
• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Bipolar disorder
• Schizophrenia and psychotic disorders
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder

Assessment begins with a psychiatric diagnostic evaluation, which may include a cognitive and mental status assessment to clarify the diagnosis and to identify factors that could influence treatment. Depending on the condition and the patient’s history, care may involve medication management, psychotherapy sessions or a combination of the two. Medication management includes selecting and adjusting treatment, monitoring response and side effects, and reviewing medicines a patient may already be taking. Psychotherapy sessions are offered as part of the overall treatment approach where clinically appropriate. Because psychiatric conditions often develop over time and may overlap, the emphasis is on careful history-taking and periodic reassessment rather than a single fixed plan.

How Dr. Bektaş works with international patients

For patients traveling from abroad, the Acibadem international patient team coordinates the collection of prior reports before the visit. In psychiatry this typically means previous psychiatric or psychological assessments, a list of current and past medications with doses, discharge summaries from any hospital admissions and, where available, laboratory results or imaging reports such as MRI or CT reports that were obtained during earlier work-up. The team also arranges appointments and organizes the hospital visit. A first consultation with Dr. Bektaş typically covers the patient’s history and current symptoms, a review of previous treatments and existing reports, a clinical and mental status examination, and a discussion of the possible options. Interpreters can be arranged when a patient and clinician do not share a common language, which is particularly relevant in psychiatry, where the consultation depends on detailed conversation.