Under the leadership of the Mood Foundation (DUVAK), 27 of the world's most distinguished scientists in mental health and neuroscience gathered in Istanbul. The 3rd Bipolar Summit Master Academy, held on July 5-6 at ITU Taşkışla, brought together expert scientists in the field in Istanbul. During the two-day summit, "personalized" approaches in the treatment of bipolar disorder, groundbreaking genetic research, and new technologies shedding light on the brain's secrets were discussed.
Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Tarhan noted that personalized treatment applications are gaining increasing importance in psychiatry, especially in treatment-resistant cases. "At the core of this approach lies the most fundamental principle of medicine: 'There are no diseases, only patients.' A personalized treatment plan must be made by considering each individual's biological, psychological, and environmental characteristics." he said.
Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Yıldız, Founding President of the Mood Foundation (DUVAK) and Congress President of the Bipolar Summit, who hosted the program, said, "We held the first Bipolar Master Academy in Cappadocia in 2012. It is very valuable that we are holding the third one this year. Our goal is not just to produce science; it is also to guide the younger generations after us and to open the doors to access knowledge."
The Bipolar Summit Master Academy 2025, organized by the Mood Foundation (DUVAK) under the presidency of Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Yıldız (Yavuz), brought together 27 scientists from 12 countries, including America, Canada, England, and Europe, in Istanbul.
At this special scientific event held on July 5-6, 2025, at ITU Taşkışla, neuroscientists, psychiatrists, and clinical experts from 12 countries shared the latest research and treatment approaches on mental health issues, especially bipolar disorder and depression. The highly anticipated summit discussed the latest advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder, groundbreaking research, and future treatment paradigms.
Topics such as the relationship between bipolar disorder and metabolism, current dimensions of lithium treatment, safe psychiatry during pregnancy and breastfeeding, TMS and modern ECT applications, genetic markers and personalized treatment, and new paradigms in the diagnosis and treatment of bipolar II were discussed at the event.
Our goal is not just to produce science; it is also to guide the younger generations after us
Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Yıldız, Founding President of DUVAK and President of the Bipolar Summit Master Academy, stated that this summit fulfills an important mission for the Mood Foundation and herself. Dr. Yıldız,
"It is very valuable that we are holding the third Bipolar Master Academy. As scientists, our goal is not just to produce science; it should also be to guide the younger generations after us and to open the doors to access knowledge. Such organizations are very valuable for young, fresh, open-minded, and eager brains. Turkey offers significant potential with its young minds, patients awaiting treatment, the position we have achieved as Turkish Scientists in the world, and the networking opportunities with the Scientific Leaders and Institutions proven in this meeting. Provided that this potential is directed correctly. Patients in our country also deserve the same quality of treatment as those elsewhere in the world. Moreover, the good service, correct treatment approach, and positive responses received are met with great gratitude by patients. The first step in transforming this high potential into a product for Turkey is to prioritize universal science and the values aligned with it over individual interests." she said.
Clinical experience is important in science
Of course, clinical experience is important in science. However, the basis of scientific guidance is evidence-based information. When you proceed with correct evidence analysis and correct interpretation, this scientific guidance brings you much closer to success in treatment. This is exactly what we are trying to do here: For years, we have been analyzing both the efficacy and side effects of drugs with mathematical models. At the same time, we closely follow the clinical research of new drug candidates that are not yet on the market. By incorporating this data into our models, we can predict both their effects and possible side effects. When you use this mathematical approach in drug selection, your treatment strategy is carried to a completely different dimension. This significantly increases the success rate of treatment."
Prof. Dr. Yıldız drew attention to the Turkish physicians' desire to learn, stating, "The hall is completely full. This shows that there is a serious desire to learn and brain capacity in Turkey. Our potential is no different from the rest of the world, as long as we can open the right doors."
Diagnosing based on first impressions is not realistic!
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, stated that bipolar disorder is an illness and continued:
"Therefore, diagnosing a person based solely on a first impression is not realistic. However, some behaviors can indicate whether an individual is prone to bipolar disorder. These individuals often exhibit mood swings that can be described as experiencing four seasons in a day. They might intensely criticize something they highly praised in the morning or express hatred for it in the afternoon. Their transitions between emotions are quite rapid; for example, they might suddenly start laughing while crying. These fluctuating moods are also evident in interpersonal relationships. Within a day, or even during a single conversation, they can shift between different emotional states. Such intense and variable emotions are common symptoms in mood disorders."
Some patients only experience manic episodes
Noting that one aspect of bipolar disorder is depression and the other is mania, Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, "In classic bipolar disorder cases, some patients may only experience manic episodes, with no depressive symptoms at all. This is especially common in Bipolar Type I disorder. In Bipolar Type II disorder, however, there are recurrent depressive episodes along with hypomanic periods. Bipolar disorder is a condition on the mood spectrum and has many subtypes. Depression is also a subgroup of this spectrum. Individuals experiencing bipolar depression can exhibit very severe depressive symptoms; this condition can also be accompanied by suicidal tendencies. Therefore, bipolar disorder is included in an important group of psychiatric illnesses such as panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and other anxiety disorders."
Understanding the brain's connection to bipolar disorder is a primary goal
Prof. Dr. Tarhan emphasized that the Bipolar Master Academy is a prestigious meeting where clinicians and academicians from around the world who work on mood disorders, particularly bipolar disorder, produce scientific output in this field, and follow up with patients, come together. He stated, "The event included sessions with extensive literature sharing, clinical experience transfer, and discussions on new approaches in the treatment of resistant cases. Especially evidence-based treatment protocols, the role of genetic algorithms in treatment planning, and personalized treatment strategies were at the forefront. Understanding the brain's connection to bipolar disorder is also one of the primary goals. This is because it is known that in bipolar individuals, the thinking brain, the feeling brain, and the decision-making brain systems do not work in harmony."
'There are no diseases, only patients'
Under the moderation of Üsküdar Üniversitesi NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi Psychiatry Specialist Prof. Dr. Nesrin Dilbaz, Tarhan presented on "LORETA QEEG Method and Personalized Treatment in Mood Disorders," noting that personalized treatment applications are gaining increasing importance in psychiatry, especially in treatment-resistant cases. Prof. Dr. Tarhan continued:
"At the core of this approach lies the most fundamental principle of medicine: 'There are no diseases, only patients.' The course of the disease, its symptoms, and the response to treatment can be completely different in two individuals with the same diagnosis. This therefore, a personalized treatment plan must be made by considering each individual's biological, psychological, and environmental characteristics. The first step of personalized treatment is the analysis of the individual's genetic makeup. Especially, how genes belonging to neurotransmitter systems like serotonin and dopamine work in the individual should be evaluated, thereby revealing the person's neurochemical profile. At this point, pharmacogenetics comes into play: which drugs are metabolized quickly or slowly in the individual, the response to the drug, and potential side effects become predictable. Thus, the 'trial-and-error' process is reduced, and treatment can be planned more targeted and effectively."
Another pillar: evaluation of brain functions
Prof. Dr. Tarhan noted that another important pillar of personalized treatment is the evaluation of brain functions. "With advanced brain imaging techniques, functional impairments in which regions of the brain can be detected. Especially through functional connectivity maps (functional connectomes), the brain's neural network structure can be analyzed. If certain networks or regions are impaired, treatment is planned by focusing on these specific structures and functions. Through this approach, a much more effective, scientific, and personalized treatment can be applied by considering the individual's unique brain structure and functions; thus, the success rate in the treatment process increases, and loss of time and resources is minimized," he said.
Personalized psychiatry… No patient is alike…
One of the main themes of the summit was personalized treatment, based on the fact that every patient is unique. Prof. Dr. Konstantinos Fountoulakis from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki described this approach as the "holy grail of medicine." Emphasizing the complexity of bipolar disorder, Prof. Dr. Fountoulakis particularly characterized chronic bipolar depression, the most destructive phase, as the "ashes of the manic fire."
"No patient is alike. Our treatment strategy must be tailored to that patient's specific needs. This was not about acting randomly, but about deeply investigating the patient's characteristics," said Prof. Dr. Konstantinos Fountoulakis, emphasizing the humanitarian aspect of modern psychiatry.
The secret of lithium is being unraveled
A concrete example of the personalized treatment approach was also presented by Prof. Dr. Frank Bellivier from Paris University. Prof. Dr. Bellivier, who leads the European project called "R-LiNK," investigating why lithium, the basic medication for bipolar disorder, works for some patients but not for others, stated that they are on the verge of groundbreaking findings.
"We are trying to predict who will respond to lithium by collecting blood and neuroimaging biomarkers. Data collection is finished, and analyses are ongoing," said Prof. Dr. Bellivier, also sharing good news: "I am delighted to state that a Turkish center in Istanbul will also participate in the next phase of the project."
Prof. Dr. Rene Ernst Nielsen, who came from Denmark to attend the summit, shared the findings of their large European study on the effects of lithium on the kidneys.
A first at this summit was the participation of a Nephrology specialist in the Lithium-Kidney session. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Arıcı, faculty member of Hacettepe University Department of Nephrology and Secretary General of the European Renal Association, shared very important information about the kidney and the kidney-lithium relationship.
A strong bond with the patient is the foundation of treatment
Clinical Psychologist Dr. Xenia Gonda from Semmelweis University of Budapest, in her presentation titled "Biopsychosocial Approach," stated, "Patients with a high risk of suicide or active substance use disorder are excluded from randomized controlled trials for methodological reasons. This prevents us from developing evidence-based treatment guidelines for this special population."
Dr. Xenia Gonda advised clinicians, in this most challenging form of bipolar disorder, to be proactive rather than reactive, to integrate multiple interventions instead of adhering to a single method, and above all, to consider the strong bond established with the patient as the foundation of treatment.
The event lasted 2 days
Within the scope of the event, participants were presented with an Oxford University-approved Turkish Bipolar Book and a special participation certificate with international meaning and validity. Young researcher physicians were enabled to communicate directly with world science leaders.
The 2-day event, where the stand of Üsküdar Üniversitesi and NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi attracted great interest, covered many topics, from the compatibility of lithium with the kidneys to epigenetic research that could be nominated for a Nobel Prize, from the relationship between metabolic syndrome and the brain to the role of pharmacogenetics in personalized treatment.
The relationship between medical aesthetics and psychology was also discussed…
Renowned Medical Aesthetic Specialist Dr. Ali Kerim Diler was also among the speakers. The summit, in a joint conference by Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Yıldız and Dr. Ali Kerim Diler, also marked a first by addressing the integrity of Mind and Body Aesthetics.
Thank you plaques were presented to those who contributed to the summit, and Int. Dr. Helin Özdemir also received a certificate of appreciation and honor for her contributions to the program.