Katerina Vlachaki, MD

Psychiatrist - Psychotherapist

Director & Coordinator, Adult Psychiatry Clinic

Papanikolaou General Hospital of Thessaloniki

About Me

I was born in Heraklion, Crete, and currently live and work in Thessaloniki, where I serve as Director and Coordinator of the Adult Psychiatry Clinic at Papanikolaou General Hospital.

I am a hospital-based psychiatrist with more than 25 years of continuous experience on the front line of public mental health care. Alongside my clinical work, I have led and participated in numerous research projects and studies in the field of mental health. I have also served as a member of Psychiatric Evaluation Committees at all professional levels and have repeatedly been appointed as a court-appointed psychiatric expert by the Public Prosecutor’s Office in cases involving mental health assessments.

For me, the protection of health is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of social cohesion. I firmly believe that psychiatric care should be accessible, evidence-based, compassionate, and focused on recovery, well-being, and the dignity of every individual.

My goal is to provide high-quality psychiatric care grounded in scientific knowledge, clinical experience, and a personalized approach that respects the unique needs of each person.

A woman with short light-colored hair, glasses, and dark lipstick speaking or reading against a dark background.
  • Close-up of a person's hands with red nail polish typing on a laptop keyboard, with a stethoscope resting on the desk in front.

    25+ Years of Hospital Psychiatry Continuous frontline service within Greece’s National Health System (NHS)

  • Close-up of a wooden gavel resting on a sound block, with a shadow cast on a light blue surface.

    Court-Appointed Forensic Psychiatric Expert Repeated appointments by the Public Prosecutor’s Office for mental health assessments and expert evaluations

  • Open notebook with handwritten notes, a pair of glasses, a pen, and a smartphone on a desk.

    Principal Investigator Lead researcher responsible for clinical studies and research projects within the Psychiatry Department

Education & Professional Career

Education & Specialist Training

Medical Degree

Faculty of Medicine, University of Patras • 1991

Specialization in Psychiatry

University Psychiatric Hospital of Thessaloniki & Community Mental Health Center • 1998

Extensive training in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Family Therapy, Counseling, and Psychometric Assessment.

Psychiatrist & Psychotherapist

MD, Psychiatrist with specialization in Adult Psychotherapy.

Professional Experience

Director & Coordinator

Adult Psychiatry Clinic • Papanikolaou General Hospital, Thessaloniki

Present

Consultant Psychiatrist

Psychiatry Department • Papanikolaou General Hospital, Thessaloniki

2001 – Present

Private Practice

SynaΨe Medical Center
3 Stratigou Kakavou Street, Thessaloniki

Present

Private Practice

Thessaloniki, Greece

1999 – 2001

Research & Scientific Activities

As Principal Investigator and Research Lead within the Adult Psychiatry Clinic, I actively contribute to clinical research and scientific projects focusing on psychiatric disorders, psychosis, mood disorders, quality of life for patients and their families, as well as ethical and safety issues in psychiatric care.

Selected Professional Affiliations & Scientific Participation

  • European Psychiatric Association (EPA)

  • World Psychiatric Association (WPA)

  • European Conference on Schizophrenia Research (ECSR)

  • Hellenic Psychiatric Congresses

  • Neurology & Geriatrics Conferences

Areas of Clinical and Research Interest

  • Schizophrenia and treatment-resistant psychosis (including clozapine therapy)

  • Alzheimer’s disease and quality of life for patients and caregivers

  • Hyperprolactinemia and treatment-related adverse effects

  • Restrictive interventions in psychiatric care

  • Psychotherapeutic approaches in OCD and related disorders

  • Ethics and patient safety in mental health services

A complete list of publications, presentations, and scientific contributions is available upon request.