Guidelines for authors
Editorial Policy
The Quarterly Journal of Mental Health is a publication of Psychological Healthcare Ltd based in London, England. It aims to publish original research in psychiatry and in related fields that includes biological, psychological and social sciences. Review articles, editorials are also published and these are usually commissioned although non-commissioned material will also be considered as well case reports of exceptional interest.
An outline should be sent to the editor in advance so as to avoid duplication with already commissioned reviews. All material is subject to peer review. Letters to the Editor discussing published papers are also published at the discretion of the editor. Reports of studies that have used qualitative research methods are also welcome. This journal has a particular commitment to publishing international research and aims to promote the publication of international corroborative research from both the developed and developing world.
Manuscripts - general
Authors submitting a paper do so on the understanding that the work has not been published before and is not being considered for publication elsewhere. A covering letter signed by all the authors should confirm agreement to submission.
All submissions require a specific declaration of interest and this applies to all authors. This should list fees, grants, employment, consultancy, shared ownership or any close relationship by or with any organisation whose interests, financial or otherwise, may be affected by publication of the paper. This should be provided after the acknowledgements.
Material intended for publication (three copies plus a disc with your paper written in Word 6 or Rich Text Format) should be forwarded to the journal office at:
Quarterly Journal of Mental Health,
608-609 Crown House
North Circular Road
LONDON
NW10 7PN
UNITED KINGDOM
Or emailed to:
info@qjmh.org.uk
The corresponding author will receive acknowledgement of receipt of the manuscript.
Manuscript Structure
Articles should be in English, typed with double spacing and wide margins on one side of consecutively numbered A4 size pages. The title page should appear as a separate sheet bearing title, author names and affiliations, and a footnote with the corresponding author's full contact information, including address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address (failure to include an e-mail address can delay processing of the manuscript).
1. Original Papers
Papers should be divided as follows:- Abstract (no more than 150 words), Introduction including aims/hypothesis (about 150 words), Material and Methods, Results, Discussion, three strengths and 3 weaknesses, Acknowledgements (if any), Declaration of interest and References. The paper should be between 3000 and 5000 words.
Page 1 should contain a concise, informative title, the authors' names and initials, the names in English of departments and institutions to be attributed, and their city and country of location. The name, telephone number, telefax number, e-mail address and full postal address of the author responsible for correspondence and offprints should be stated.
Page 2 should contain the structured abstract. Use the following headings: Objective, Method, Results, Conclusions.
2. Review articles/meta-analyses
Review articles/meta-analyses cover topics of interest to the clinical psychiatrist and psychiatric researcher. They should clearly state the practical implications. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses follow the same format as original articles.
3. Short Reports
These follow the same format as original papers. The abstract should be less than 100 words and the report no longer than 1200 words (excluding abstract, references, tables and figures legends) and contain no more than 10 essential references beyond those describing statistical procedures, psychometric instruments and diagnostic guidelines.
4. Case reports
Case reports describe extraordinary cases of interest to the clinician or the researcher and must not exceed two printed pages. The Abstract should follow the same format as for original papers and be less than 100 words. The manuscript should include the following headings: Introduction, Case Report, Discussion and References. Signed permission from the person(s) described must be obtained and submitted with the report. If informed consent cannot be obtained, then it may be obtained from an authorised person.
5. Letters to the Editor
Letters to the editor that discuss and constructively criticize published material will be published at the editor’s discretion. There is a 500 words, 5 reference limit and should be submitted electronically. They may be sent to the original author for comment.
Acknowledgements
The author is responsible for having procured the signed permission from any person or institution mentioned in the acknowledgement.
References
These should be kept to the pertinent minimum and numbered consecutively in the order in which they appear in the text, in accordance with the Vancouver System. Identify references in text, tables, and legends by Arabic numerals in superscript (see below). Manuscripts not yet published may be cited but only if they have been accepted for publication and should be designated as “in press” after the abbreviated title of the journal. Information from manuscripts not yet accepted should be cited in the text as personal communication. The references must be verified by the author(s) against the original documents
Type references in the style shown below, double-spaced throughout. List all authors; do not use "et al." Abbreviations of journal names should conform to the style used in Index Medicus; journals not indexed there should not be abbreviated.
- Arango C, Bartko JJ, Gold JM, Buchanan RW. Prediction of neuropsychological performance by neurological signs in schizophrenia. Am J Psychiatry 1999; 156(9):1349-1357.
- Beahrs JO: The cultural impact of psychiatry: the question of regressive effects, in American Psychiatry After World War II: 1944-1994. Edited by Menninger RW, Nemiah JC. Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Press, 2000, pp 321-342
- Haro JM, Edgell ET, Frewer P, Alonso J, Jones PB. The European Schizophrenia Outpatient Health Outcomes Study: baseline findings across country and treatment. Acta Psychiatr Scand Suppl 2003;(416):7-15
Tables and Figures
Tables should be printed on separate sheets numbered with Arabic numerals, and have a self-explanatory heading. Footnotes or comments should be self-explanatory. Tables should be mentioned in the text but should not replicate material contained therein.
All figures should clarify the text and their number be kept to a minimum. Details must be large enough to retain their clarity after reduction in size. Illustrations should be planned to fit the proportions of the printed page. Photographs should be unmounted and submitted on glossy paper or electronically. Type figure legends on a separate page. If you submit by mail, submit 3 copies of each illustration/photograph.
It is the policy of QJMH for authors to pay the full cost for reproduction of their colour artwork. Therefore, please note that if there is colour artwork in your manuscript when it is accepted for publication, Blackwell Publishing require you to complete and return a colour work agreement form before your paper can be published.
Please note also that QJMH uses the SI system of units and the recommended international non-proprietory name (rINN) for drug names. Gene names should be those approved by the Human Gene Organisation
One set of proofs in PDF format will be sent by email to the corresponding Author, to be checked for typesetting/editing. No changes in, or additions to, the accepted (and subsequently edited) manuscript will be allowed at this stage. Proofreading is solely your responsibility. A form with queries from the copyeditor may accompany your proofs. Please answer all queries and make any corrections or additions required. The Publisher reserves the right to proceed with publication if corrections are not communicated. Return corrections within 2 days of receipt of the proofs. Should there be no corrections, please confirm this.
Reprints
Twenty-five reprints are provided free of charge. Additional copies may be ordered via the reprint order form sent with the proofs. There are no page charges.
Copyright
Authors will be required to assign copyright in their paper to Psychological Healthcare. Copyright assignment is a condition of publication and papers will not be passed to the publisher for production unless copyright has been assigned To assist authors the editorial office will supply an appropriate copyright assignment form. Alternatively authors may like to download a copy.
