Early recognition, antipsychotic medication management and steady, respectful long-term care for adults — in İzmir or online for follow-up.
If you or a family member are dealing with schizophrenia or another psychotic disorder and need English-speaking psychiatric care in İzmir, Dr. Ömer Orhun Ercan provides diagnosis, antipsychotic medication management and long-term follow-up — with family involvement welcomed as part of the plan. Initial evaluations take place in person at the Güzelbahçe clinic, with secure online sessions available for follow-up, including for expats managing an existing diagnosis after relocating to Turkey. Psychotic disorders are treatable medical conditions, and with consistent care many people live stable, meaningful lives.
Psychosis rarely arrives overnight. In most cases there is a quiet run-up lasting months: sleep unravels, concentration slips, the person pulls back from friends, and suspiciousness or odd ideas begin to take root. Families usually sense that something is wrong long before anyone can name it — and that instinct is worth acting on. The earlier a psychotic disorder is evaluated and treated, the better the long-term course tends to be, which makes an early psychiatric assessment one of the most valuable steps a family can take.
It also matters to say plainly what schizophrenia is not. It is not a split personality, not a character flaw, and not anyone's fault — it is a medical condition of the brain, in the same sense that epilepsy or diabetes are medical conditions. People living with schizophrenia are far more often withdrawn and frightened than dangerous. Letting go of the stigma is not just kindness; it is practical, because shame is one of the main reasons treatment gets delayed.
An evaluation is worthwhile even when the picture is ambiguous. Not every unusual experience means schizophrenia — severe mood episodes, substance use, certain medical conditions and some medications can all produce psychotic symptoms. As a medical doctor, Dr. Ercan works through these possibilities systematically, with laboratory tests where the picture warrants, before settling on a diagnosis that will shape years of treatment.
Antipsychotic medication is the cornerstone of treatment for schizophrenia and related disorders. Modern options differ considerably in their effects and side-effect profiles, and finding the right fit is careful, individualized work: starting conservatively, adjusting on evidence, monitoring weight, metabolic health and movement side effects, and taking the patient's own experience of the medication seriously. For people who struggle with daily tablets, long-acting injectable forms can simplify treatment. Stopping medication abruptly is the single most common path to relapse, so any change is planned together, never improvised.
Families are partners in this treatment, not bystanders. With the patient's consent, family members are welcomed into the process — to understand what the diagnosis does and does not mean, to learn the early signs of relapse, and to know exactly what to do when they see them. Practical psychoeducation of this kind is among the most strongly evidence-supported interventions in psychiatry, and it eases the burden on relatives who often carry more worry than information.
Around the medication sits the rest of life: supportive psychotherapy to process what has happened and rebuild confidence, help structuring daily routine and sleep, and realistic planning around work or study. Recovery here is measured in steadiness — fewer and milder episodes, and a life that belongs to the person rather than to the illness.
For internationals, the most common scenario is not a first episode but an existing diagnosis that has moved countries: an expat, a student or a family member who was stable on treatment at home and now needs care re-established in İzmir. The priority is medication continuity — running out of antipsychotic medication between health systems is a preventable cause of relapse. Many widely used antipsychotics are available in Turkey, often under different brand names, but prescriptions require a local psychiatric evaluation, so the first appointment should happen well before your current supply ends. Bring previous psychiatric reports, discharge summaries and current prescriptions; in English or translated, they make the transfer of care far safer.
The first evaluation is a 75-minute in-person appointment at the Güzelbahçe clinic — for psychotic disorders, an in-person start is strongly preferred so the assessment rests on solid ground. Once treatment is established and stable, 30-minute follow-ups can often continue by secure video, which suits patients elsewhere in Turkey and families coordinating care from abroad. If symptoms escalate into an emergency at any point — severe agitation, or risk of harm to self or others — call 112 in Turkey rather than waiting for an appointment.
Individualized selection, dosing and side-effect monitoring by a medical doctor, including long-acting injectable options where they simplify treatment.
Structured guidance for relatives: what the diagnosis means, how to recognize early signs of relapse, and how to support treatment without exhausting themselves.
Ongoing therapeutic support to process the experience of illness, rebuild daily structure and confidence, and plan realistically around work or study.
Regular reviews to keep medication effective and tolerable, catch early warning signs, and maintain continuity — in person or online once care is stable.
In-person in Güzelbahçe, İzmir — on the western coast, with free parking. Around 25–35 minutes by car from central districts such as Alsancak and Konak, and convenient for Urla, Seferihisar and Çeşme.
Online consultations in English are available across Turkey and abroad via secure video — see online psychiatry.
Yes. The evaluation, medication follow-up and family meetings can all be conducted in English. In psychotic disorders, subtle changes in thinking and perception carry diagnostic weight, so being able to describe them in your own language — and having family members fully understand the plan — genuinely improves care.
For most people with schizophrenia, ongoing antipsychotic medication is the most reliable protection against relapse, and long-term treatment is the usual recommendation. But 'long-term' is not 'unexamined' — dose, medication choice and side effects are reviewed regularly, and any change is planned together rather than made abruptly.
Arrange a psychiatric evaluation as soon as possible, before the supply runs out — prescriptions in Turkey require a local assessment. Bring previous reports and the current medication box or prescription. Many antipsychotics used abroad are available in Turkey, sometimes under different names, and an equivalent regimen can usually be arranged once the evaluation is done.
For schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, the initial evaluation is strongly preferred in person at the Güzelbahçe clinic. Once treatment is established and stable, follow-up appointments by secure video are often practical — including for patients elsewhere in Turkey and for family members joining from abroad.
Yes — family members can book a consultation themselves to describe what they are seeing and get concrete guidance on next steps, how to talk about treatment without confrontation, and what warning signs require urgent action. If there is immediate danger to the person or others, call 112 rather than waiting.
The first session is used to understand your situation and agree on a personalized plan — in person in Güzelbahçe, or online from wherever you are.
This page was prepared and reviewed by Ömer Orhun Ercan, MD — Psychiatrist (Uzm. Dr.). It is for informational purposes only and does not replace a medical examination, diagnosis or treatment.