Research & Projects

Research devoted to new psychoactive substances in Kyrgyzstan examines the emergence, circulation, and impact of novel synthetic drugs within the national context. It outlines how globalization, online markets, and regional trafficking routes have facilitated access to new psychoactive substances (NPS), including synthetic cannabinoids, cathinones, and other laboratory-produced compounds. The chapter discusses patterns of use, particularly among young people, and analyzes associated health, psychological, and social risks. Special attention is given to challenges in detection, regulation, and clinical response, as NPS often evade standard drug control frameworks and toxicological screening. The authors also explore gaps in public awareness, prevention strategies, and professional training. Legal reforms and policy responses are reviewed, highlighting tensions between punitive approaches and public health–oriented harm reduction models. Overall, the chapter emphasizes the need for coordinated efforts among healthcare providers, researchers, law enforcement, and policymakers to address the rapidly evolving NPS landscape in Kyrgyzstan.

Publication:

Molchanova, E., Bessonov, S., Galako, T., et al. (2025). New psychoactive substances in Kyrgyzstan: Public health risks and policy responses. In M. Prilutskaya (Ed.), New psychoactive substances: Studies from Central Asia and China (pp. 47–66). Nomos.

This cross-sectional study examined the association between post-traumatic stress (PTS) and prospective memory (PM) among displaced Afghan students at the American University of Central Asia, compared with Kyrgyz peers. Using the PCL-5 and the Prospective Memory Questionnaire, data from 132 Afghan and 130 Kyrgyz students were analyzed with non-parametric tests and multiple regression. Afghan students reported significantly higher PTS levels and greater PM decline. Regression analysis showed that traumatic stress severity was the strongest predictor of reduced prospective memory, with Afghan citizenship and female gender also contributing. The findings highlight the cognitive impact of displacement-related trauma and underscore the need for targeted mental health support.

Publication:

Molchanova, E., Sarmast, Z., & Khan, A. (2025). Posttraumatic stress and prospective memory among displaced Afghan students: Cross-sectional study. Neuroscience Research Notes, 8(1), Article 372. https://doi.org/10.31117/neuroscirn.v8i1.372

This research is conducted by Elena Molchanova Gulnara Kurmanova. In Kyrgyz society, the concept of uyat, a culturally specific form of shame, significantly influences behavior, shapes moral values, and regulates emotional expression. More than personal embarrassment or guilt, it functions as a collective moral compass that maintains social order and hierarchy. Despite its importance, uyat remains underexplored in empirical psychology, and there are no validated Kyrgyz-language tools to measure key constructs such as shame, guilt, depression, and anxiety, which limits mental health research and clinical practice in Kyrgyzstan.

This study aims to address this gap through a three-phase research plan. The first phase involves adapting widely used psychometric tools into Kyrgyz to ensure semantic, conceptual, and metric equivalence. The second phase includes qualitative interviews with experts to deepen understanding of the cultural meaning and social role of uyat. The third phase focuses on empirically assessing internalized uyat and its impact on quality of life. Ultimately, the study seeks to contribute to culturally sensitive diagnostic and treatment approaches in Kyrgyz mental health research and practice.

Understanding Time Through

Events – Experiments in Psycho-Linguistics

Global well-being in 2025: A multidimensional analysis of mental, financial, and social health in 92 countries

CEU, Department of Cognitive Science) & AUCA (Department of Psychology) conducted experimental research examining how Kyrgyz speakers understand and organize event sequences over time, contributing to cross-linguistic studies on temporal cognition and language processing.

2025 Global Mental Health Study

Led by: Columbia University, Irving Medical Center (USA)

Scope: 92 countries, including Kyrgyzstan

Sample: 53,774 participants

This landmark study, one of the largest mental health investigations ever conducted, examined mental health alongside financial and social well-being indicators worldwide. Results revealed widespread languishing mental health, particularly among younger adults and populations in higher-income countries. While positive trends emerged for education and income levels, concerning patterns also appeared, including the disappearance of the traditional U-shaped age-happiness curve and moderate mental health outcomes among employed individuals.

Current Phd Project (University of Cologne)

In her PhD project, Hanna focuses on a quantitative longitudinal study of the pre-migration period among Kyrgyz nursing students. In the framework of proactive motivation (Parker et al., 2010), she assesses antecedents of German language acquisition. This study will be complemented by a qualitative analysis of pre- and post-migration experiences.

During her Master's thesis at the University of Zürich. 

Publication: Provenzano, L., Gohlke, H., Saetta, G., Bufalari, I., Lenggenhager, B., & Lesur, M. R. (2024). Fluid face but not gender: Enfacement illusion through digital face filters does not affect gender identity. Plos one, 19(4), e0295342.