About Me

Specialist Dr. Arzu Dalmış provides services in psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, sexual therapy, family therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, motivational interviewing techniques for addiction, and EMDR therapy.

Arzu Dalmış, the child of teacher parents, completed her primary, secondary, and high school education in Izmir. After graduating from Izmir Girls' High School, she graduated from Ege University Faculty of Medicine in 1995 and began her medical career in Çorum. She later chose psychiatry as her first preference for specialization and completed her residency training at Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry. For her specialization thesis, she focused on genetic studies in alcohol dependence, and her scientific study titled “The Role of the Dopamine-2 Receptor Gene and Personality Traits in Alcohol Dependence in the Turkish Population” was published in the Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry.

In addition to her psychiatry specialization, Arzu Dalmış has completed training in psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, sexual therapy, family therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, motivational interviewing techniques for addiction, and EMDR. She has numerous articles published in scientific journals and presentations at congresses (her publications should be searched under the surnames Dalmış and Kitiş).

After working for a short period as a psychiatrist in Kars and Izmir, she served for 12 years starting from 2010 at Manisa Mental Health and Diseases Hospital, one of the largest mental health hospitals in Turkey. During this period, due to the intensity of her hospital duties, she had to take a break from her academic studies, but gained significant clinical experience. In 2022, she resigned from her public service position and opened her own private practice in Izmir to provide better services to her clients by combining her therapy training with her clinical experience. Arzu Dalmış believes that the only illness in the human body is the “mind” and that the true success of therapy depends on the cooperation and effort of the client.

In addition to her profession, Dr. Arzu Dalmış is also interested in sports. She is a licensed equestrian and has achieved numerous rankings in official show jumping competitions. She is also the mother of a son who is a licensed rider like herself.

1989

High School: Izmir Girls' High School, Izmir

1995

University: Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir

2000-2005

Residency: Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Izmir

Foreign Language

English

1996

Kayaağzı Health Center, İskilip, Çorum – General Practitioner

1996-2000

No. 15 Gediz Maternal and Child Health Center, Izmir – General Practitioner

2000-2005

Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry – Research Assistant

2005

Kars State Hospital, Psychiatry Clinic, Kars – Specialist Doctor

2006-2007

Buca Seyfi Demirsoy State Hospital, Izmir – Specialist Doctor

2007-2009

Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, AMATEM, Izmir – Specialist Doctor

2010

Buca Seyfi Demirsoy State Hospital, Izmir – Specialist Doctor

2010-2022

Manisa Mental Health and Diseases Hospital, Manisa – Specialist Doctor

• Psychoanalytic-oriented psychotherapy (I completed 6 years of group therapy, theoretical training, and supervision processes at the Halime Odağ Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy Foundation)
• Cognitive and behavioral therapy (I completed the theoretical and practical training organized by the Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies Association and accredited by the EABCT – European Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies, and obtained the title of “Adult Cognitive and Behavioral Therapist”)
• Sexual dysfunctions, couple and family therapies (from CETAD and Prof. Dr. Mehmet Zihni Sungur)
• Motivational interviewing techniques (I received training and supervision in motivational interviewing techniques for addiction at different times from Prof. Dr. Hakan Coşkunol and Prof. Dr. Kültegin Ögel)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT – Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) (TURBAD – Association for Contextual Sciences and Psychotherapies, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fatih Yavuz)
• Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) (from Prof. Dr. Nazan Aydın, President of the Interpersonal Psychotherapy Association)
• EMDR – Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Burhanettin Kaya)

Medical Specialty Thesis

The role of the dopamine D2 receptor gene and personality traits in alcohol dependence

Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yıldız Akvardar

Articles published in international peer-reviewed journals: (Former surname: Kitiş)

1. Kitis A, Akdede BB, Alptekin K, Akvardar Y, Arkar H, Erol A, Kaya N. Cognitive dysfunctions in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder compared to patients with schizophrenia: Relation to overvalued ideas. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2007 Jan 30;31(1):254-261.
2. Anil EA, Kivircik BB, Batur S, Kabakçı E, Kitis A, Güven E, Basar K, Turgut T, Arkar H. The Turkish version of the auditory consonant trigram test as a measure of working memory: a normative study. Clin Neuropsycholol. 2003 May;17(2):159-169.
3. Kivircik Akdede BB, Alptekin K, Kitis A, Arkar H, Akvardar Y. Effects of quetiapine on cognitive functions in schizophrenia. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2005 Feb;29(2):233-238.
4. Alptekin K, Akvardar Y, Akdede BB, Dumlu K, Isik D, Pirincci F, Yahssin S, Kitis A. Is quality of life associated with cognitive impairment in schizophrenia? Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2005 Feb;29(2):239-244.
5. Donmez B, Cakmur R, Men S, Oztura I, Kitis A. Coexistence of movement disorders and epilepsia partialis continua as the initial signs in probable Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Mov Disord. 2005 Sep;20(9):1220-3.
6. Ulas H, Alptekin K, Akdede BB, Tumuklu M, Akvardar Y, Kitis A, Polat S. Panic symptoms in schizophrenia: comorbidity and clinical correlates. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2007 Dec;61(6):678-680.

Articles published in national peer-reviewed journals: (Former surname: Kitiş)

1. Alptekin K, Kıvırcık Akdede B, Kitis A, Akvardar Y, Ulaş H, Orhon Z. Schizophrenia and aging: The relationship between clinical symptoms and cognitive functions with age in schizophrenia. Turkish Journal of Psychiatry. 2004;15(2):91-97.
2. Yıldız Akvardar, Mevhibe Tümüklü, Berna Binnur Akdede, Halis Ulaş, Arzu Kitis, Köksal Alptekin. “Substance Use among Patients with Schizophrenia in a University Hospital”, Bulletin of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 2004;14(4):191-197.
3. Kıvırcık Akdede B, Alptekin K, Akvardar Y, Kitis A. Quality of life in obsessive-compulsive disorder: Its relationship with cognitive functions and clinical findings. Turkish Journal of Psychiatry. 2005;16(1):13-19.
4. Arzu Dalmış, Neşe Koçuk, Yıldız Akvardar. Biomedical perspectives in alcohol dependence: Genetics, imaging, and marker determination studies. Türkiye Klinikleri Journal. 2010;3(3):48-53.
5. Buket Belkız Güngör, Şeref Gülseren, Arzu Dalmış, Nabi Zorlu. The relationship between age of onset of alcohol dependence and family history with impulsivity and compulsivity. Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry. 2013;14(3):267-274.
6. Arzu Dalmış, Yıldız Akvardar, Çiğdem Eresen, Sefa Kızıldağ, Uğur Akpulat, Şebnem Yıldırımcan, Haluk Arkar, Berna Binnur Akdede, Köksal Alptekin. The role of the dopamine D2 receptor gene and personality traits in alcohol dependence in the Turkish population. Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry. 2014;15(3):192-199.

Papers presented at international scientific meetings and published in proceedings: (Former surname: Kitiş)

1. Alptekin K, Ulaş H, Kıvırcık BB, Tümüklü M, Akvardar Y, Kitis A. Comorbid panic symptoms and their relationship with clinical correlates in schizophrenia. 15th Congress of the ECNP, Barcelona, 2002.
2. Kivircik BB, Alptekin K, Kitis A, Arkar H. Effects of quetiapine on cognitive function in schizophrenia. 9th International Congress of Schizophrenia Research, Colorado Springs, 2003.
3. Alptekin K, Kivircik BB, Kitis A, Akvardar Y. Age-related decline in the severity of positive symptoms with stable cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. 9th International Congress of Schizophrenia Research, Colorado Springs, 2003.
4. Akvardar Y, Kivircik BB, Alptekin K, Dumlu K, Işık D, Pirincci F, Kitis A. Quality of life and cognitive functions in schizophrenia. 16th ECNP Congress, Prague, 2003.
5. Akdede BB, Alptekin K, Akvardar Y, Kitis A. Quality of life in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder: relationships with cognitive functions and clinical symptoms. 17th ECNP Congress, Prague, 2004.
6. A. Kitis, Y. Akvardar, C. Eresen, S. Kızıldağ, U. Akpulat, S. Yıldırımcan, K. Alptekin, B.B. Akdede, H. Arkar. The role of dopamine D2 receptor gene and personality characteristics in alcohol dependence in the Turkish population. 19th ECNP Congress, Paris, 2006.

Papers presented at national scientific meetings and published in proceedings: (Former surname: Kitiş)

1. Alptekin K, Ulaş H, Kıvırcık BB, Tümüklü M, Akvardar Y, Kitis A. Prevalence of panic disorder in patients with schizophrenia. 37th National Psychiatry Congress, Istanbul, 2001.
2. Kıvırcık BB, Alptekin K, Kitis A, Arkar H, Akvardar Y. The effect of quetiapine on cognitive functions in patients with schizophrenia. 38th National Psychiatry Congress, Marmaris, 2002.
3. Kitis A, Kıvırcık BB, Alptekin K, Akvardar Y, Arkar H. Cognitive functions in schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder. 38th National Psychiatry Congress, Marmaris, 2002.
4. Alptekin K, Kıvırcık BB, Kitis A, Akvardar Y, Ulaş H, Orhon Z. Schizophrenia and aging. 7th Spring Symposium, Antalya, 2003.
5. Akvardar Y, Akdede BB, Alptekin K, Dumlu K, Işık D, Pirincci F, Yahssin S, Kitis A. Quality of life and cognitive functions in schizophrenia. 39th National Psychiatry Congress, Antalya, 2003.
6. Akvardar Y, Akdede BB, Özerdem A, Eser E, Topkaya Ş, Kitis A, Alptekin K. Evaluation of quality of life in patients with mental disorders using WHOQOL-BREF. 39th National Psychiatry Congress, Antalya, 2003.
7. Anıl EA, Kıvırcık BB, Batur S, Kabakçı E, Kitis A, Güven E, Basar K, Turgut T, Arkar H. Evaluation of working memory using the Turkish adaptation of the Auditory Consonant Trigram Test. 7th Spring Symposium, Antalya, 2003.
8. Alptekin K, Şemin S, Akdede BB, Ergör G, Akvardar Y, Demiral Y, Tümüklü M, Ulaş H, Kitis A, Ünal B, Mantar A, Çakır E, Şimşek S, Özbay D. Prevalence of psychotic symptoms and risk factors in the Turkish population. 40th National Psychiatry Congress, Kuşadası, 2004.
9. Kitis A, Kıvırcık BB, Alptekin K, Akvardar Y, Arkar H. Cognitive functions in schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Spring Symposium, 2004.
10. Akvardar Y, Akdede BB, Özerdem A, Eser E, Topkaya Ş, Kitis A, Alptekin K. Evaluation of quality of life in psychiatric patients using WHOQOL-BREF. 1st Quality of Life in Health Symposium, Izmir, 2004.
11. Akvardar Y, Akdede BB, Alptekin K, Dumlu K, Işık D, Pirincci F, Yahssin S, Kitis A. Quality of life and cognitive functions in schizophrenia. 1st Quality of Life in Health Symposium, Izmir, 2004.
12. Kitis A, Akvardar Y, Eresen Ç, Kızıldağ S, Akpulat U, Yıldırımcan Ş. The relationship between alcohol dependence and the dopamine D2 receptor gene in the Turkish population. 41st National Psychiatry Congress, Erzurum, 2005.
13. Kitis A, Akvardar Y. Personality traits in alcohol dependence. 41st National Psychiatry Congress, Erzurum, 2005.
14. Kitis A. Quality of life in alcohol dependence. Quality of Life Congress, Izmir, 2007.
15. Kitis A. Genetic factors and personality traits in alcohol dependence. 3rd National Addiction Congress, Istanbul, 2006.
16. Kitis A. Psychiatry Department of Izmir Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, AMATEM and its issues. 4th National Addiction Congress, Izmir, 2007.
17. Kitis A, Zorlu N, Tokur H, Coşkunol H, Gülseren Ş. Evaluation of the first eight months of patient population of a newly established AMATEM. 4th National Addiction Congress, Izmir, 2007.
18. Zorlu N, Kitis A, Tokur H, Gülseren Ş, Coşkunol H. Sociodemographic evaluation of patients applying to AMATEM outpatient clinic. 4th National Addiction Congress, Izmir, 2007.
19. Tokur H, Kitis A, Zorlu N, Gülseren Ş, Coşkunol H. Tendency to use alcohol and cigarettes during the premenstrual period in second-grade high school girls. 4th National Addiction Congress, Izmir, 2007.
20. Tokur H, Kitis A, Zorlu N, Gülseren Ş, Coşkunol H. Stigmatization in a patient with addiction and complex partial seizures: a case report. 4th National Addiction Congress, Izmir, 2007.
21. Dalmış A. New developments in addiction genetics. 46th National Psychiatry Congress, Izmir, 2010.
22. Dalmış A. Attachment and addiction. 15th Spring Symposium, Antalya, 2011.