Vedat Şar

Prof. Vedat Şar is a Turkish psychiatrist currently serving as Head of the Department of Psychiatry at Koç University School of Medicine. He has held academic appointments at multiple institutions including Istanbul School of Medicine (1992-2014) and American Hospital (2014-present).

• Licensed psychiatrist with over 120 international publications
• Established specialized units for clinical psychotherapy and dissociative disorders research
• Former president of International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (2007-2008)
• Former president of European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (2013-2015)
• Consultant to DSM-5 Classification of Mental Disorders Study Group (2010-2013, 2018-2019)

Education:

• Medical Degree from Istanbul Faculty of Medicine (1975-1981)
• Psychiatry Residency at Hacettepe University (1981-1986)
• Research Fellowship at University of Basel (1992-1993)

Research Focus: Dr. Şar is a pioneer in dissociative identity disorder research in Turkey and globally. His work examines the relationship between childhood trauma and adult psychopathology, with special interest in traumatic stress disorders, personality disorders, and trauma-focused psychotherapy. He has significantly advanced understanding of stress-related physical complaints and intimate relationship problems in trauma patients.

Academic Contributions: His publications (over 120) span topics including dissociative disorders, trauma neurobiology, and cultural psychiatry. The articles demonstrate a sustained focus on psychotraumatology, dissociation, and trauma-informed treatments.

Scientific Recognition: Dr. Şar has received 9 international awards, including a lifetime achievement award for his groundbreaking work in traumatic stress and dissociation research.