Editorial Process for the Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry

The Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry upholds a rigorous and transparent editorial process, ensuring the publication of high-quality, original research that contributes significantly to psychiatry. This process is designed to maintain the integrity and excellence of the work we publish, fostering the advancement of psychiatric knowledge and practice. Here is an overview of our editorial process:

Submission and Preliminary Evaluation: Each manuscript is evaluated for compliance with the submission guidelines and suitability for our readership upon submission. We accept manuscripts on the condition that they are submitted exclusively to the Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry and have not been published, simultaneously submitted, or accepted for publication elsewhere. Authors are expected to nominate one among them or appoint a suitable representative as the corresponding author for all matters related to the submission. This individual will be the sole point of contact for editorial correspondence.

Acknowledgement of Receipt: All submissions are duly acknowledged. Authors will receive confirmation of their manuscript's receipt, indicating the start of the editorial review process.

Initial Screening: The editorial team conducts an initial review to assess the manuscript's originality, scientific accuracy, technical quality, and the relevance of its message. Manuscripts that do not meet the journal’s standards for significance and interest to our readership or those with major scientific or technical flaws are promptly rejected at this stage. Manuscripts that are not formatted according to instructions will be returned to authors.

Peer Review: Manuscripts passing the initial screening are forwarded to a minimum of two expert reviewers for an in-depth evaluation. While authors are encouraged to suggest potential reviewers at the time of submission, the final selection of reviewers remains at the discretion of the editors. The Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry employs a double-blind review process, ensuring the anonymity of both reviewers and authors, to preserve the objectivity and fairness of the evaluation.

Editorial Decision and Revision: Following peer review, the assigned editorial team member synthesizes the reviewers’ feedback and communicates the decision to the authors—be it acceptance, rejection, or a request for revisions. Authors may be asked to revise their manuscript to address specific concerns raised during the review. This iterative process continues until the manuscript meets the journal’s standards for publication.

Copy Editing and Proofreading: Accepted manuscripts undergo copy editing to ensure clarity, coherence, and compliance with the journal's style. Following this, page proofs are sent to the corresponding author for final review. Authors are expected to return corrected proofs within three days. Delays or significant alterations at this stage may lead to publication delays.

Online First Publication: To facilitate timely dissemination of research findings, accepted papers are published online immediately as part of our 'Ahead of Print' initiative, even before inclusion in a scheduled print issue.

The Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry is committed to a fair, impartial, and timely editorial process, ensuring that all manuscripts are evaluated on the basis of their scientific merit, without regard to the authors' race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, citizenship, religious belief, political philosophy, or institutional affiliation. Our goal is to contribute valuably to the ongoing dialogue in the psychiatric community, advancing research and clinical practice for the betterment of mental health worldwide.

Authorship Criteria and Responsibilities

The Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry adheres to precise and ethical guidelines regarding authorship of manuscripts. Authorship credit is granted based on significant contributions in three key areas:

Substantial Involvement: This includes concept and design of the study, acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data.

Manuscript Preparation: Authors must contribute to drafting the article or critically revising it for important intellectual content.

Approval of Final Manuscript: Authors must give final approval of the version to be published.

Authorship should reflect meaningful contributions to the research and writing process. Mere participation in funding acquisition, data collection, or general supervision does not qualify for authorship. Authors must sufficiently participate to take public responsibility for part of the manuscript. The order of authorship should reflect the relative contributions of each participant and must be agreed upon by all authors.

Reference Style Guide

For the preparation of references in manuscripts submitted to the Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry, we adhere to the American Psychological Association (APA) citation style. This style requires that references be listed alphabetically by the author's last name at the end of the paper. The title of the journal should be presented in full to facilitate easy identification and retrieval of the sources. Below are examples of how to format different types of references according to APA style:

Journal Article

Adewale, M.O. (1992). Psychiatric assessment in prison inmates. Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry, 11(5), 312-330.

Journal Article with Multiple Authors

Goodman, A. P., Woodstone, M. P., & Malan, A. S. (1990). Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Liberian refugees. British Journal of Psychiatry, 174, 339-354.

Book

Harry, R.C. (1967). Theory of motivation. O. Princewill & R. George (Eds.). Harper and Row Publishers.

When listing references in APA style:

For journal articles, include the authors' names, publication year, article title, journal title (in italics), volume number (in italics), issue number (in parentheses, if available), and page numbers.

For books, include the authors' names, publication year, book title (in italics), editors (if applicable), and the publisher's name and location.

Ensure all references are comprehensive and detailed to allow readers to locate the cited works easily. The APA style facilitates a uniform format for citations and references, promoting clarity and consistency in academic writing.

Accepted Article Types, Word Count, and Reference Limits

1. Original research articles:

• Word count: 3,000 words (excluding abstract and references)

• Abstract: Limit to 250 words

• References: Limit to 50

• Tables & Figures: Limit to 4

2. Review Articles:

• Word count: 3,000 words (excluding tables, references, and abstract)

• Abstract: Limit to 250 words

• References: Limit to 100

3. Case reports:

• Word count: Not more than 1500 words (excluding references and abstract)

• Abstract: Limit to 100 words

• References: Limit to 10

4. Case Series article:

• More than four cases should be reported in a case series article.

• Word count: Limit to 1500 words (excluding references and abstract)

• References: Limit to 10

5. Brief communication article:

• Word count: Not more than 1500 words

• References: Not more than 15

• Tables/Figures: Not more than 2

• Structured abstract

• Definition: Condensed version of an original scientific article, presenting key findings in a concise format.

6. Perspective:

• Word count: Not more than 2500 words

• References: Not more than 15 references.

• Unstructured abstract.

• Definition: Offers an individual viewpoint or interpretation on a specific topic.

7. Letter to the Editor:

• Word count: 600 words

• References: Not more than 5.

• No abstract.

• Definition: Provides commentary or feedback on previously published material.

8. Systematic review and Meta-analysis articles:

• Word count: Not be more than 4000 words.

• References: Not more than 100 references

• Structured abstract.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

Authors are required to transparently disclose any potential conflict of interest that could influence the results or interpretation of their manuscript. This includes financial, personal, or professional relationships with organizations or products mentioned in the study. Such disclosures ensure the integrity and transparency of the research published by the Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry.

Manuscript Preparation Guidelines

Manuscripts must adhere to the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors' "Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals." Key components include:

Title Page: List the article's title, authors' names (first name, middle initial, surname), institutional affiliations, and a corresponding author's contact details (email, phone number).

Keywords: Include 3-5 MESH terms for indexing.

Running Title: A concise summary of the title, not exceeding five words.

Abstract: Provide a structured abstract not exceeding 250 words for original research, detailing background, methods, results, and conclusion.

Main Manuscript Structure:

Introduction

Materials and Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusions

Acknowledgments (if any)

References

Tables/Figures/Images

The manuscript should be organized appropriately based on the type of article (original research, review article, case report, etc.). Use standard abbreviations and define any special abbreviations the first time they appear.

Blind Submission Instructions

To ensure a fair and unbiased review, authors must anonymize their manuscript:

Remove author names, institutions, grant details, and research location.

Refer to personal previous research in the third person.

For revisions, submit a blinded memo addressing how comments were incorporated.

Submission and Publication Ethics

Manuscripts must be submitted online, including supporting documents and a cover letter highlighting the manuscript's significance. The Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry rigorously checks for plagiarism and holds a firm stance against any form of academic dishonesty.

Reporting Guidelines and Ethics

To ensure the highest standards of transparency, integrity, and rigor in research, the Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry mandates adherence to specific reporting guidelines tailored to the design of the study being reported. These guidelines assist authors in preparing their manuscripts by outlining critical elements that need to be included to ensure comprehensive and reproducible research reporting.

Specific Study Design Guidelines:

STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology)

Type of Study: Observational studies, including cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies.

Source: STROBE Checklists

CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials)

Type of Study: Randomized controlled trials.

Source: CONSORT Statement

SQUIRE (Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence)

Type of Study: Quality improvement projects.

Source: SQUIRE Guidelines

PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses)

Type of Study: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Source: PRISMA Checklist

STARD (Standards for the Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies)

Type of Study: Studies of diagnostic accuracy.

Source: STARD Guidelines

CARE (Case Report)

Type of Study: Case Reports.

Source: CARE Checklist

AGREE (Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation)

Type of Study: Clinical Practice Guidelines.

Source: AGREE Reporting Checklist

For guidance on other types of studies not listed above, authors are encouraged to consult the EQUATOR Network, which provides a comprehensive directory of reporting guidelines across various research methodologies.

Publication Charges

The Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry waives publication fees for psychiatrists who are members of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN). However, authors who are not members pay a publication fee of 100 USD for each article. Nigerian authors who are not members of the APN might be considered for a discount or full waiver (please write to the Editor-in-Chief). 

Through adherence to these guidelines, the Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry aims to maintain the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and ethical publication practices, contributing valuable knowledge to the field of psychiatry.

NJP Final Submission Checklist

This checklist is designed to assist you in ensuring that your submission complies with our guidelines. Do not include this checklist in your manuscript submission. Submissions that do not adhere to these guidelines will face immediate desk rejection.

• Manuscript Formatting: Your MAIN ARTICLE should be compiled into a single, BLINDED document. It must include the title, abstract, MESH keywords, references, tables, and images as necessary.
• Manuscript File Type: We accept only MS Word documents. PDF files are not permitted.
• Tables:
• Place each table and its caption appropriately within the manuscript.
• Table Formatting Guidelines:
1. One Value per Cell: Ensure each cell contains only a single data point.
2. Clear Cell Borders: Maintain visible borders for all table cells to ensure clarity.
• Figures and Photographs:
• Generate each figure and photograph in .jpg or .tif format.
• Position them suitably within your manuscript with separate captions.
• Reference Style: Follow the APA style guide for all references.
• Anonymity: Remove all authors' names and identifying details from the main manuscript file to maintain anonymity.
• Title Page: Provide a separate title page that includes all author information.
• Running Title: Supply a running title for your manuscript.
• Abstract:
• Incorporate a 250-word abstract, double-spaced on a distinct page within the main manuscript file.
• Also, submit it separately during the submission phase.
• Keywords: Add 3-6 relevant MESH keywords at the end of your abstract.
• Introduction/Background: Offer a clear introduction/background that underlines the necessity of the study.
• Informed Consent:
• Describe the informed consent process for participants within the Methods section.
• Statistical Analysis and Sample Size Estimation:
• Specify the Type I error level (α) used for hypothesis testing (α < 0.05 is standard but not obligatory).
• Explain your method for estimating sample size, mentioning the specific formula and parameters used without presenting the formula itself.
• Results:
• Clearly present and statistically analyse each hypothesis in the Results section.
• Discussion:
• Thoroughly discussion of your findings, including limitations and conclusions.
• Proofreading:
• Undertake multiple spell checks, grammar checks, and proofreading to remove typographical and spelling errors.
• Word Count: Comply with the word count limits designated for your article type.
• Readability:
• Have a proficient English speaker review your manuscript to ensure its clarity and readability, especially for technical terms.