Author Guidelines

The Tamil Psychiatry Journal (TPJ) is dedicated to advancing the science, education, and clinical practice of psychiatry and mental health. The journal welcomes submissions that contribute to psychiatric knowledge, practice, and policy in both regional and global contexts.

Manuscript Categories

Type

Word Limit

Abstract

References

Review Type

Original Research Article

≤ 3000 words

Structured (≤ 250 words)

≤ 25

Double-blind

Review Article

≤ 4000 words

Unstructured (≤ 250 words)

≤ 40

Double-blind

Case Report / Case Series

≤ 1500 words

Unstructured (≤ 150 words)

≤ 15

Double-blind

Short Communication

≤ 1200 words

Unstructured (≤ 150 words)

≤ 10

Double-blind

Letter to the Editor

≤ 800 words

No abstract

≤ 5

Editorial review

General Submission Requirements

  • Manuscripts must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere.
  • All submissions must comply with the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) recommendations for biomedical publications.
  • Manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review to ensure objectivity and academic integrity.
  • Ethical approval must be obtained for all studies involving human participants.
  • Patient confidentiality must be strictly maintained.
  • Conflict of interest, funding sources, and author contributions must be clearly disclosed within the manuscript.

Manuscript Preparation

Language and Format

  • Manuscripts should be prepared in Tamil.
  • Acceptable file formats: Microsoft Word (.doc/.docx), OpenOffice, or RTF.
  • Use 12-point font, single spacing, and italics rather than underlining (except URLs).
  • Tables, figures, and illustrations should be inserted within the text at appropriate points rather than at the end.

Title Page

Include the following information:

  1. Manuscript title
  2. Full names of all authors
  3. Institutional affiliations (Department, Institution, City, Country)
  4. Corresponding author’s full contact details (email and postal address)
  5. ORCID iD (recommended for all authors)
  6. Conflict of Interest and Funding Statements

Abstract and Keywords

  • Original Research Articles: Structured abstract (≤ 250 words) under the headings — Background, Methods, Results, Conclusion.
  • Review Articles / Case Reports / Short Communications: Unstructured abstract (≤ 150–250 words).
  • Provide 5–10 keywords (preferably MeSH terms).

Tables and Figures

  • Each table/figure must have a title and legend.
  • Submit figures in high-resolution JPEG/PNG format.
  • Patient-identifying information must be removed or blurred.
  • Insert tables and figures within the text at relevant points.

Manuscript Structure

A. Original Research Articles (Empirical studies presenting novel findings in clinical psychiatry, mental health services, or related fields.)

  1. Introduction
  2. Materials and Methods
  3. Results
  4. Discussion
  5. Conclusion
  6. References

B. Review Articles (Comprehensive and critical analyses of current developments in psychiatry and allied disciplines.)

  1. Introduction
  2. Main Text (organized by themes or subtopics)
  3. Conclusion
  4. References

C. Case Reports / Case Series (Clinically relevant or unusual case presentations that provide valuable diagnostic or therapeutic insights.)

  1. Introduction
  2. Case Description
  3. Discussion
  4. References

D. Short Communications (Brief reports of preliminary data, innovative interventions, or regional mental health initiatives.)

  • Concise structure summarizing background, brief methodology, key findings, and conclusion.

E. Letters to the Editor

  • Focused commentary or response related to previously published articles or emerging issues in psychiatry. No abstract required.

Ethical Considerations

  • All research must comply with the Declaration of Helsinki (2013).
  • Ethical approval (with committee name, number, and date) must be stated.
  • Written informed consent is required for all case reports or identifiable patient information.
  • Clinical trials should include a CTRI or ClinicalTrials.gov registration number.
  • The journal adheres to COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines.
  • Plagiarism, data fabrication, or unethical research will result in rejection and possible notification to the relevant authorities.

Authorship Criteria

TPJ follows ICMJE authorship guidelines.
Each author must have made substantial contributions to:

  1. The conception or design of the work, or data acquisition.
  2. Drafting or critically revising the manuscript; and
  3. Approval of the final version before submission.

Guest, ghost, or honorary authorship is strictly prohibited.

Conflict of Interest and Funding

  • All authors must declare any financial or personal relationships that could influence the work.
  • Funding sources must be disclosed.
  • If there are no conflicts, include the statement: “The authors declare no conflict of interest.”

Submission Process

  • Authors must register on the TPJ website and submit manuscripts via the online Submissions portal.
  • The editorial office will confirm receipt and communicate further steps via email.

Peer Review Process

  • TPJ follows a double-blind review system (authors and reviewers remain anonymous).
  • Average review time: 3 weeks.
  • Editorial decisions: Accept / Minor Revision / Major Revision / Reject.
  • Revisions must be resubmitted within the specified timeframe.

References

  • References must follow APA style (7th edition).
  • Examples:
    • Journal Article:
       Kumar, S., & Raj, M. (2023). Cognitive behavior therapy in depression: A randomized study. Tamil Psychiatry Journal, 10(2), 115–123.

    • Book:
       Sadock, B. J., & Sadock, V. A. (2017). Kaplan and Sadock’s Synopsis of Psychiatry (11th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.

Copyright and Open Access

  • All articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license.
  • Authors retain copyright but grant TPJ the right to publish, distribute, and archive their work.
  • Articles are freely accessible online immediately upon publication.