Aims & Scope
Journal of Psychological Disorders (JPD) publishes empirical research on the etiology, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of psychological disorders across the lifespan. We focus on translating clinical science into evidence-based practice through rigorous methodology and replicable findings.
Core Research Domains
Mood & Anxiety Disorders Tier 1
- Major depressive disorder: etiology, biomarkers, treatment response
- Bipolar spectrum disorders: mood stabilization, cognitive dysfunction
- Generalized anxiety disorder: worry mechanisms, CBT efficacy
- Panic disorder: interoceptive sensitivity, exposure therapy
- Social anxiety disorder: cognitive biases, pharmacotherapy
- Specific phobias: fear conditioning, extinction learning
"Randomized controlled trial comparing third-wave CBT to standard CBT for treatment-resistant depression, with 12-month follow-up and neuroimaging correlates of response."
Psychotic & Thought Disorders Tier 1
- Schizophrenia spectrum: positive/negative symptoms, cognitive remediation
- First-episode psychosis: early intervention, prodromal markers
- Delusional disorders: belief maintenance, reality testing
- Schizoaffective disorder: diagnostic boundaries, treatment algorithms
- Neurobiological substrates: dopamine dysregulation, glutamate hypothesis
- Functional outcomes: social cognition, vocational rehabilitation
"Longitudinal study of metacognitive training effects on insight and functional capacity in chronic schizophrenia, using validated assessment batteries."
Trauma & Stress-Related Disorders Tier 1
- Post-traumatic stress disorder: memory reconsolidation, EMDR mechanisms
- Complex PTSD: developmental trauma, emotion dysregulation
- Acute stress disorder: early intervention, prevention strategies
- Adjustment disorders: stress-diathesis models, resilience factors
- Dissociative disorders: trauma processing, identity integration
- Neurobiological correlates: HPA axis, amygdala hyperactivity
"Meta-analysis of prolonged exposure therapy versus cognitive processing therapy for PTSD, examining moderators of treatment outcome across trauma types."
Personality & Impulse-Control Disorders Tier 1
- Borderline personality disorder: dialectical behavior therapy, mentalization
- Antisocial personality disorder: psychopathy, treatment engagement
- Narcissistic personality disorder: grandiosity, interpersonal dysfunction
- Avoidant personality disorder: social anxiety overlap, schema therapy
- Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder: perfectionism, rigidity
- Impulse-control disorders: behavioral addictions, self-regulation
"Prospective cohort study examining emotion regulation strategies as predictors of self-harm in borderline personality disorder, with ecological momentary assessment."
Secondary Focus Areas
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, learning disorders, and intellectual disability when comorbid with psychological disorders or examining transdiagnostic mechanisms.
Eating & Body Image Disorders
Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, with focus on psychological maintenance factors and evidence-based interventions.
Substance Use & Addictive Disorders
Psychological aspects of addiction, dual diagnosis, motivational interviewing, relapse prevention, and behavioral addictions (gambling, internet gaming).
Somatic Symptom Disorders
Illness anxiety disorder, conversion disorder, factitious disorder, and psychological factors affecting medical conditions.
Sleep-Wake Disorders
Insomnia disorder, nightmare disorder, and sleep disturbances as transdiagnostic features of psychological disorders.
Sexual Dysfunctions
Psychological etiology and treatment of sexual desire, arousal, and orgasm disorders; paraphilic disorders with clinical significance.
Geriatric Psychopathology
Late-life depression, anxiety in older adults, cognitive decline with psychiatric comorbidity, and age-specific treatment adaptations.
Forensic Psychology
Criminal responsibility, competency evaluations, risk assessment, and treatment of offenders with psychological disorders.
Cultural & Diversity Factors
Cross-cultural psychopathology, cultural formulation, ethnic disparities in diagnosis and treatment, and culturally adapted interventions.
Transdiagnostic Mechanisms
Emotion regulation, cognitive biases, rumination, experiential avoidance, and other processes spanning multiple disorder categories.
Emerging Research Areas
Article Types & Priorities
Expedited Editorial Decision (14-21 days)
Regular Editorial Process (30-45 days)
Selective Acceptance (High Bar)
These formats are accepted only when presenting exceptional clinical significance, novel diagnostic presentations, or critical commentary on published work. Single case reports must demonstrate unique features not previously documented.
Editorial Standards & Requirements
Reporting Guidelines
All submissions must follow discipline-specific reporting standards:
- CONSORT for randomized trials
- STROBE for observational studies
- PRISMA for systematic reviews
- CARE for case reports
- COREQ for qualitative research
Diagnostic Criteria
Studies must use validated diagnostic systems:
- DSM-5-TR or ICD-11 criteria
- Structured clinical interviews (SCID, MINI)
- Validated symptom measures
- Clear inclusion/exclusion criteria
- Diagnostic reliability reporting
Data Transparency
JPD requires open science practices:
- Data sharing in public repositories
- Analysis code availability
- Pre-registration for confirmatory studies
- Materials sharing (protocols, measures)
- ORCID for all authors
Ethics & Consent
Mandatory ethical compliance:
- IRB/ethics committee approval
- Informed consent documentation
- Vulnerable population protections
- Conflict of interest disclosure
- Funding source transparency
Statistical Rigor
Methodological requirements:
- A priori power analysis
- Effect size reporting
- Confidence intervals
- Multiple comparison corrections
- Missing data handling
Preprint Policy
JPD supports preprint posting:
- Preprints allowed (PsyArXiv, medRxiv)
- Must disclose during submission
- No impact on editorial consideration
- Version control required
- Link to final published version
Editorial Decision Metrics
Ready to Submit?
If your research aligns with our scope and meets our methodological standards, we invite you to submit your manuscript. Our editorial team provides constructive feedback to all authors, regardless of decision outcome.
Contact Editorial Office
