Dr. Elena Molchanova is the Chair and Full Professor in the Psychology department at the American University of Central Asia. She earned a Scientific Degree in Psychiatry from the Kyrgyz State Medical Academy (1998, Kyrgyzstan) and completed postgraduate training in Psychiatry, Counseling, and Psychotherapy (1993). She holds a graduate degree (MD) in General Medicine from the Kyrgyz State Medical Academy with honors (1991, Kyrgyzstan).
Dr. Molchanova joined 69ɫ in 2003 as a full-time faculty member in the Psychology department and has been a Research Fellow of the Consortium of Multicultural Psychology Research (CMPR) of Michigan State University since 2012 (USA). In 2013, she was also a Research Fellow at Michigan State University (USA). She is an expert at the Family and Mental Health non-governmental organization, a scientific consultant of the Kyrgyz Psychiatric Association, and a consulting Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist at the Republican Center for Mental Health.
Dr. Molchanova is a member of the Kyrgyz Association of Clinical Psychologists, Psychotherapists, and Psychiatrists; a member of the Russian Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology Association, a member of the Central Eurasian Studies Society, a member of the American Psychological Association, the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH), the World Psychiatric Association, European Psychiatric Association (EPA), and American Psychological Association (APA). She holds membership in the Editorial Board of Academic Journals:
- Consortium Psychiatricum: (SCOPUS),
- Neuroscience Research Notes: (SCOPUS),
- Medical Psychology in Russia:,
- Medical Anthropology and Bioethics:,
- Historical Psychology and Sociology of History (since August 2012): ,
- Reviewer of the articles submitted to “Public Health Panorama”
Исследовательский профиль доктора Молчановой: SCOPUS Author ID: 56993086700, ORCID: 0000-0002-4268-9008, Researcher’s ID: ABA-1245-2020, eLibrary SPIN:9191-7880, H-Index=10
- Ulysses Medal for Leadership in Refugee Health, School of Medicine, US Davis Health, 2019
- Special Psychological Award “Zolotaya Psiheya”, 2015
- Presidential Award for Commitment to Excellence, 2015
- John J. Dreier Faculty Excellence Award, 2010
- Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2008
- Award for Excellence in Clinical, Teaching, and Research Work, Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic, 2003
- Kyrgyz State Lenin Scholarship (Ленинская стипендия), 1990
- Anthropological Psychology and Psychiatry
- Cultural aspects of family therapy
- Neuropsychology and culture
Dr. Molchanova is the author of numerous articles in peer-reviewed academic journals, clinical manuals, book chapters, and monographs. Below are publications included in the SCOPUS database:
- Moldokulova, J, Molchanova, E, and Kosterina, E. Anorexia Nervosa through the Lens of Primary Health Care Practitioners in the Kyrgyz Republic (2023). Consortium Psychiatricum Volume 4; Issue 2. 41-52. DOI: 10.17816/cp6184
- Molchanova, E., Kharsun, V. Kenzhebaeva, Zh. and Alikanova, A. (2022) Experiences of Kyrgyzstani Frontline Healthcare Workers during the “Black July” of 2020: A Qualitative Study. Consortium Psychiatricum Volume 3; Issue 2. 97-110
DOI: 10.17816/cp154
- Kim, E and Molchanova, E. (2022) Bargaining with Virginity: Regulating Practices in Post-socialist Kyrgyzstan. Central Asian Affairs. DOI: 10.30965/22142290-bja10032
- Molchanova E., Kosterina E., Yarova, O, and Panteleeva, L. Outpatient Services for People with Mental Disorders in the Kyrgyz Republic: What Is Next? Consortium Psychiatricum Volume 3, Issue 1, p.106-113, DOI: 10.17816/cp133
- Mundt, A. P., Rozas Serri, E., Siebenförcher, M., Alikaj, V., Ismayilov, F., Razvodovsky, Y. E., Molchanova, E… Priebe, S. (2021). Changes in national rates of psychiatric beds and incarceration in Central Eastern Europe and Central Asia from 1990-2019: A retrospective database analysis. The Lancet Regional Health - Europe, 7, 100137.
DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2021.100137
- Kim, E and Molchanova, E. (2018). Resurgence of ethnic sports in post-Soviet Kyrgyzstan: still hunting for women. In: Women, Sport and Exercise in the Asia – Pacific Region. Gyozo Molnar, Sara Amin and Yoko Kanemasu (editors), Routledge, 49-60
- Elena Kim, Asel Myrzabekova, Elena Molchanova & Olha Yarova (2018) Making the ‘empowered woman’: exploring contradictions in gender and development programming in Kyrgyzstan, Central Asian Survey, DOI: 10.1080/02634937.2018.1450222. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02634937.2018.1450222
- Elena Molchanova, Sharon Horne, Elena Kim & Olga Yarova (2017) Hybridized Indigenous Healing in the Kyrgyz Republic: Helping Survivors of Violence, Women & Therapy, 41:1-2, 69-82, DOI: 10.1080/02703149.2017.1324187
- Molchanova, E. Kim E (2016). Psychiatry in the Kyrgyz Republic: In between the Soviet Past and a Vague Future. In: Routledge Handbook of Psychiatry in Asia. Dinesh Bhugra (chief editor). Routledge, UK, pp.11-27.
- Molchanova, E. (2014) Mental Health Rehabilitation in the Kyrgyz Republic: Official and Indigenous Models. Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Mental Health 1(1), pp. 23–26
- Molchanova E., Elena Kosterina, Elena Kim, Sharon G. Horne, Patrick Marius Koga (2013). Counseling in Asian Countries: The Kyrgyz Republic. In: Counseling Around the Word. An International Handbook. Thomas Y. Hohenshil (chief editor). American Counseling Association, p.107-117.
- Abnormal Psychology (BA, MA levels)
- Introduction to Counseling
- Psychology of Personality (BA, MA levels)
- Psychology Testing