Editor’s Note

Peer review is one of the cornerstones of responsible scientific and medical publishing. Often papers are reviewed by several journals before publication, with the same reviewers—identified as experts in a particular area—called upon by different Editors to repeat their efforts.

In The American Journal of Psychiatry, we publish major studies in genetics, clinical trials, epidemiology, imaging, neuropsychology, and all aspects of psychiatry and psychology, from animal models to clinical studies to health services. We request reviews from the same pool of expert peer reviewers in each area who review for all major journals. These peer reviewers significantly improve articles, and their efforts should not be abused by repeated reviews of the same paper as it travels between journals. Moreover, repeated submissions and review can also delay important findings from publication.

Therefore, The American Journal of Psychiatry has instituted a new policy for papers rejected after review by another major journal. Upon receipt of the original reviews and the manuscript in its present format with a cover letter indicating how the paper has been revised, we will inform the authors within 7 days that the paper will be accepted, accepted with revisions suggested by the editor, sent for further peer review, or rejected. Materials should be sent to [email protected] with the subject line “Re-Review Procedure.”