Author instructions for manuscript preparation

Save your valuable time—read these instructions before you start writing and always contact the Editors if you are uncertain about how to proceed!

Current Psychiatry is a monthly, peer-reviewed publication delivered to nearly 40,000 subscribers, including US psychiatrists in community and hospital practice; your peers in psychiatry residency; and advance-practice psychiatric clinicians. The mission of the publication is to provide readers with 1) up-to-date, evidence-based, practical advice and 2) commentary for their enlightenment.

As a resident, you will be preparing a manuscript for “Residents’ Voices” that falls under the second arm of the mission—commentary. The resulting article will, if accepted, be posted and archived on the Current Psychiatry Web site (www.mdedge.com/psychiatry) under your byline.

Fellows in psychiatry—in child, forensic, psychosomatic, addiction medicine, and geriatric subspecialties—are eligible to have a manuscript considered for publication in Residents' Voices. Your contributions are welcome.

What are the Editors looking for?

We are seeking manuscripts for “Residents’ Voices” that tell a compelling story about your residency, your mentors and colleagues, or your patients—a story in which you share your vision and experiences at this stage of the professional journey. Don’t over-reach: Neither the Editors nor the reader expect you to speak with the perspective or expertise of a long-practicing psychiatrist, but they do expect you to inform your discussion with the novelty of what you are undertaking.

For examples of published "Residents' Voices", go to https://www.mdedge.com/psychiatry/residents.

Before you write a word

Contact Editor Jeff Bauer (jbauer@mdedge.com) to discuss your proposed topic.
 

The publishing process

All manuscripts are reviewed for scientific integrity and for relevance and value to your fellow residents by select members of Current Psychiatry’s editorial board and by the Editors.
 

Accepted manuscripts are edited for clarity and style by the journal’s professional staff and returned to you for revision and approval before publication. In assigning copyright to the publishers, you agree to participate in the editing process, including review of the edited draft and final sign-off of page proofs (see “COPYRIGHT AND PERMISSIONS” below).
 

Nuts and bolts

In a cover letter to your submission, disclose any real or perceived commercial conflicts of interests that are relevant to the discussion in the manuscript. You will be asked to provide this information again, later, in a form (see “DISCLOSURES/ACKNOWLEDGMENTS” below). Current Psychiatry does not accept articles written by, funded by, or prepared with assistance from commercial third-party interests, such as medical education companies, pharmaceutical companies, or corporate-supported advocacy organizations. Questions about this policy should be directed to Mr. Bauer.
 

Here are instructions for preparing the manuscript, once your writing is done:
 

COVER PAGE

Manuscript title: Write a title for your manuscript that clearly and succinctly conveys what you plan to discuss. Include a key word or two from the text in the title for Web search purposes, and resist the temptation to be strictly catchy or clever, which will not help readers find your work on the Web.
 

Deck: Summarize the article’s main message in 1 sentence. Taken together, title and deck should compel your colleagues to read on.
 

Author credentials: State your academic appointment below your byline. For example:

Judith L. Jones, MD

PGY-3

Department of Psychiatry

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, North Carolina
 

Contact information: Provide your mailing address, phone, fax, and e-mail address.
 

Photo: Submit a color digital image of yourself (head or head-and-shoulders). A studio passport portrait usually suffices; amateur photographs are often of insufficient resolution for publication.

INTRODUCTION

One or 2 paragraphs tell readers what they will learn from reading your article that will enlighten and edify them as they work toward designation as a specialist.

TEXT

No more than 750 words. This does not include references; any tables, charts, and figures; drug brand names list; and the disclosure statement. Please note: A manuscript in significant excess of that word count is more likely to be returned “unacceptable” than taken for shortening by the editorial staff.
 

Tables, charts, and figures are not likely necessary in a commentary; consult with the Editors before making these accessory materials part of your submission.
 

REFERENCE CITATIONS

Do not list references in alphabetical order, but number them  (1, 2, 3 . . . ) as cited in the text. List up to 3 author names per article; for 4 or more, list the first 3 names, followed by et al. Use Index Medicus abbreviations for journal titles.
 

Journal citations: Authors. Article title. Journal Name. Year of publication; volume(number):inclusive pages.

Example: Smith R, Jones T, Roberts W. Managing the bipolar patient. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2001;25(4):230-242.
 

Book chapters: Chapter author(s). Chapter title. In: Book editors. Book title. City of publication: Publisher; year:page numbers.

Example: Smith R, Jones T, Roberts W, et al. Managing the bipolar patient.
In: Barber Z, Peterson R, eds. General psychiatry. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Prentice Hall; 2001:45-68.

DRUG BRAND NAMES

List all pharmaceutical agents mentioned in your article, providing generic and brand names in alphabetical order. For example:

Citalopram • Celexa

Gabapentin • Neurontin

Paroxetine • Paxil

Sertraline • Zoloft

DISCLOSURES/ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

You must submit a signed financial disclosure form, which will be provided to you after the manuscript is accepted.
 

COPYRIGHT AND PERMISSIONS

If your article is accepted, you must assign copyright to Current Psychiatry before the article can be published. We will provide you with this form when we send you the edited article for your approval.
 

You are responsible for obtaining permission from the copyright holder to republish tables, charts, or other materials that have been published previously. NOTE: Before you agree to pay any permission fee, send photocopies of the materials to Editor Jeff Bauer for review. The editors have final say in selecting graphic materials, based on fees, available editorial space, and relevance to the manuscript.

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Guidelines on Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools in Journal Articles

• Nonhuman artificial intelligence (AI) technologies do not qualify for named authorship. Chatbots cannot meet ICMJE requirements for authorship and therefore cannot be authors. All those named as authors must meet authorship criteria.
• Authors should be transparent about the use of AI technologies to aid in writing content. Authors should disclose in a cover letter to the journal which tool was used (name, version, and manufacturer) and how it was applied in the article submitted to the journal.
• Human authors are responsible for the accuracy of work compiled by an AI tool, including the absence of plagiarism. Proper referencing/sources of statements is necessary.
• Images created by AI tools are not permitted for publication. However, AI tools may be used to help illustrate a concept or study methodology for publishing staff to create a new original image; all guidelines above apply to ensure that content is accurate and properly referenced.

Do you have other questions?

Contact Current Psychiatry Editor Jeff Bauer at jbauer@mdedge.com at any stage of the publishing process.

Thank you for preparing your article for the benefit of the readers of Current Psychiatry—especially your peers in residency.