Turan ITIL

Prof. Dr. Turan İtil (1924-2014), Turkish neuropsychopharmacologist and psychiatrist. He is known for his pioneering work in the field of electroencephalography (EEG) and his research on the effects of psychoactive drugs.

Who is Turan Itil?

Born in 1924 in Bursa, Turan İtil graduated from Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine in 1948. After his military service, he completed his specialty training in neurology and psychiatry at Tübingen University in Germany in 1954. During his time in Germany, he increased his clinical experience by working in the Neuropsychiatry Department of Prof. Dr. Fritz Flügel in Erlangen.

In 1958, he met the American neurologist and psychiatrist Max Fink at a scientific congress in Rome. This meeting was an important turning point in İtil's career. In 1963, upon Fink's invitation, he traveled to the United States and began working as an associate professor at the Missouri Psychiatric Institute. Here, he conducted research on the effects of psychoactive substances on the brain using EEG technology. In particular, he developed computerized systems to analyze the effects of substances such as LSD and mescaline on the EEG.

In the early 1970s, İtil returned to Turkey, where he founded the HZİ Foundation and continued clinical research on psychoactive drugs. These studies had a great impact on the medical community of the time and made İtil internationally recognized.

Impact and Legacy

Prof. Dr. Turan İtil has left deep traces in the scientific world with his innovative studies in the field of neuropsychopharmacology. In particular, his use of EEG technology to measure the effects of psychoactive drugs brought a new dimension to research in this field. The methods he developed are still fundamental in understanding the effects of psychoactive substances on brain function.

His work has been widely recognized not only in academic circles but also in clinical practice. His research emphasizing the importance of the use of EEG in the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders has made significant contributions to modern psychiatric practice.

In addition, the clinical research conducted by ITIL through the HZI Foundation he founded in Turkey pioneered the scientific study of psychoactive drugs in Turkey. These studies contributed significantly to the development of the field of neuropsychopharmacology in Turkey.

Prof. Dr. Turan İtil's scientific legacy lives on through his research in the field of neuropsychopharmacology and EEG. The studies carried out under his leadership continue to inspire researchers today.