Scope

Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences (EPS) is an international, peer reviewed journal intended to provide updated data and scientific information to epidemiologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, statisticians and other research and mental health workers primarily concerned with public health and epidemiological and social psychiatry.

Priority is given to original research and systematic reviews about mental health service research, aimed to improve the quality of everyday practice.

Editorial Policy

Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences publishes the following articles:

Original articles*: These should be no more than 4000 words (excluding abstract, references, tables/figures, which should be uploaded as separate files). The abstract should be structured using the subheadings Aims, Methods, Results, Conclusions, and should not exceed 400 words. The article should contain no more than a combined total of six tables and/or figures. Authors must also select four keywords to be included. All submissions are via the online submission system detailed below.

Editorials**: These should be no more than 3000 words, plus a non-structured abstract of 300 words, references, tables and figures. Four keywords are required for Editorials. Authors will be invited via the online submission system to submit Editorials, and these should not be submitted speculatively.

Special Articles*: These should be no more than 4000 words, plus a structured abstract of 400 words using the subheadings Aims, Methods, Results, Conclusions, plus references, tables and figures. The article should include no more than a combined total of six tables and/or figures. Authors must also select four keywords to be included. Both invited Editorials and Special Articles are intended to keep up with the changing world of epidemiological psychiatry and to consider new perspectives. Authors will be invited via the online submission system to submit Special Articles, and these should not be submitted speculatively.

Letters to the Editor**: EPS accepts submission of Letters to the Editor to support post-publication discourse around research and work previously published in EPS. These should be no more than 2500 words, and all comment/discussion must relate to a piece of work previously published in EPS. No novel research or findings should be presented in a Letter to the Editor. As with other article types, all Letters will be subject to editorial review, and acceptance or rejection for publication is at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief.

The following Sections may also appear in the journal:

Contemporary Outsider Art** (edited by Carole Tansella). This Section of Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences is dedicated to all forms of creative production born of an intimate and individual urge, often secretive, unbound from the conventional art system rules. Through short descriptions of the Outsider art work of prominent artists and new protagonists often hosted in community mental health services, this section intends to investigate the latest developments of the contemporary art scene, where the distances between the edge and the center are becoming more and more vague.

These contributions are written in house by the Section Editor or commissioned by the Section Editor. Authors will be invited via the online submission system to submit to this section, and these papers should not be submitted speculatively. (These should be no more than 2000 words, plus references. Authors must also select four keywords, and may include up to ten references and four high-resolution images. No abstract is required). Please note that authors must have the relevant permissions from copyright holders to use any images or photographs included, and are required to confirm this by signature of the publishing agreement. Figure captions and attribution must also be included.

Epidemiology for Clinical Psychopharmacology* (edited by Corrado Barbui). This Section of Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences focusses on the role of the epidemiological approach to promoting advances in the field of clinical psychopharmacology, with particular attention given to controversial findings. The ultimate aims are: to help develop a more critical attitude towards the results of research studies published in the international literature; to promote original research projects with higher methodological standards; and to implement the most relevant results of research in everyday clinical practice.

These contributions are written in house by the Journal's Editorial team or commissioned by the Section Editor. Authors will be invited via the online submission system to submit to this section, and these papers should not be submitted speculatively (these should be no more than 1000 words, plus a short 200 word unstructured abstract, maximum of fifteen references, one Table or Figure. Authors must also select four keywords to be included).

Epidemiology for Behavioural Neurosciences* (edited by Paolo Brambilla). This Section of Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences focusses on the relevance of epidemiology for behavioural neurosciences, reporting the results of studies that explore the use of an epidemiological approach to provide a better understanding of the neural basis of major psychiatric disorders and, in turn, the utilisation of the behavioural neurosciences for promoting innovative epidemiological research. The ultimate aim is to help the translation of most relevant research findings into everyday clinical practice. These contributions are written in house by the journal's editorial team or commissioned by the Section Editor. Authors will be invited via the online submission system to submit to this section, and these papers should not be submitted speculatively. (These should be no more than 1000 words, plus a short 200 word unstructured abstract, maximum of fifteen references, one Table or Figure. Authors must also select four keywords to be included).