The Archives of Psychiatry and Mental Health (APMH) operates on a fully open-access publishing model. To ensure high-quality editorial evaluation, peer review, production, digital archiving, DOI assignment, and global dissemination, Article Processing Charges (APCs) are applied only after a manuscript has successfully passed peer review and been formally accepted for publication.

APCs support the sustainability of the open-access model, ensuring that all published articles remain freely available to the global community without subscription barriers. This page provides comprehensive details on APC structure, cost breakdown, funder compliance, payment workflow, allowable waivers, discount criteria, and institutional support.

No submission fees, no review fees, and no hidden charges. APCs apply only after the manuscript is accepted.

Purpose of APCs

APCs fund essential components of scholarly publishing:

Editorial oversight and initial quality assessment
Double-blind peer review infrastructure
Manuscript copyediting and language polishing
Professional typesetting and galley preparation
DOI registration and maintenance
Article hosting and long-term archiving
Indexing, metadata distribution, and repository integration
Website security, hosting, and digital preservation

APCs do not influence editorial decisions. Journal acceptance is based solely on scientific merit.

APC Structure

APCs vary by article type and production complexity. The ranges below reflect the typical APC levels charged by APMH:

Article Type	APC Range (USD)	Description
Original Research Articles	$2949	Full manuscripts requiring extensive peer review, copyediting, and layout.
Review Articles	$2949	Comprehensive literature syntheses requiring enhanced formatting and reference verification.
Case Reports / Clinical Observations	$2949	Short-format clinical insights with moderate production needs.
Short Communications	$2949	Rapid reports; concise editing and layout.
Editorials / Commentaries / Opinions	$2949	Often invited; processing costs are minimal.

What APCs Cover

APCs cover a defined set of publishing services:

Administrative processing and editorial decision management
Plagiarism screening via industry tools
Peer reviewer selection, communication, and coordination
Full editorial guidance for revisions
Technical editing and journal-style formatting
Metadata creation, Crossref DOI assignment
Online hosting and search engine optimization
Indexing distribution to major discovery services
Permanent archiving through digital repositories

What APCs Do Not Cover

APCs do not include optional author-invoked services such as:

Extensive language editing for non-English manuscripts
Statistical analysis consulting
Graphic design or figure redrawing
Post-acceptance major content revisions
Editorial support for grant writing or scientific rewriting

These services, if requested, may incur additional optional charges with the author's approval.

Waivers and Discounts

APMH maintains an inclusive publishing philosophy, ensuring that economic constraints do not obstruct the dissemination of important psychiatric research. Discounts or full waivers may be granted based on:

Low-income country (LIC) status
Lower-middle-income country (LMIC) status
Student or early-career researcher status
Lack of institutional funding
Special circumstances documented by the author

Waiver requests must be made before acceptance to ensure a transparent financial process.

How to Request a Waiver

Send a formal email to the editorial office
Include manuscript title and authorship details
State financial limitations clearly
If possible, provide institutional documentation

APMH evaluates waiver requests compassionately and confidentially.

Institutional and Funder Support

Many universities and funders now support APC payments as part of open-access mandates. APMH complies with:

NIH Public Access Policy
Wellcome Trust open-access requirements
Horizon Europe OA mandates
UKRI open-access compliance
Major international funder policies

If institutions require customized invoices or compliance documentation, APMH provides these upon request.

APC Payment Workflow

1. Pre-Acceptance

The manuscript undergoes:

Initial editorial assessment
Double-blind peer review
Author revisions and responses
Final editorial approval

No fees are charged during this phase.

2. Acceptance Notification

Once accepted, the editorial office sends:

A formal acceptance email
An APC invoice with detailed breakdown
Payment instructions

3. Processing the Payment

Payments may be made via:

Credit/debit card
Bank transfer
Institutional purchase orders
Funder reimbursement systems

4. Production Stage Begins

After payment clearance:

Copyediting begins
Typeset proofs are generated
Authors review galleys
Final publication scheduling occurs

Refund Conditions

Refunds are governed by the APMH Refund Policy. Summarily:

Full refund if production has not begun
Partial refund if only minimal editing occurred
No refund after proof approval or final publication

Refunds are never issued due to rejection, as APCs are only charged after acceptance.

Examples of APC Scenarios

Scenario 1: Fully Funded Research Group

A European grant-funded team submits an Original Research Article. After acceptance, the APC invoice is handled by their institution through a purchase order. Publication proceeds without delay.

Scenario 2: Graduate Student from LIC Region

A student submits a high-quality case report but lacks funding. APMH grants a 70% APC waiver after reviewing documentation, ensuring equitable access to publication.

Scenario 3: Corporate-Funded Review Article

A privately funded research group submits a systematic review. APC is paid immediately upon acceptance, enabling rapid production scheduling.

Scenario 4: Ethical Concern & Refund

An article is accepted prematurely due to administrative error. A full refund is provided, and the manuscript is returned to peer review.

APC Transparency and Ethical Principles

APCs never influence editorial decisions
Editors and reviewers are not involved in financial matters
Waivers are assessed fairly and without bias
APMH publishes APC values openly and transparently
All APC-related communications occur post-acceptance

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can APCs be paid after publication?: No. Payment must be completed before production begins.
Q: Do rejected manuscripts incur fees?: No. There are zero charges for rejected submissions.
Q: Can APCs be waived completely?: Yes, for eligible authors, especially those from LIC/LMIC regions or without funding.
Q: Can APCs be paid in installments?: Institutional or special cases may be considered upon request.
Q: Are APCs tax-included?: Invoices reflect net charges and specify tax applicability based on jurisdiction.
Q: Does APC payment guarantee fast-track review?: No. Fast-tracking is not available and APCs do not influence review speed.

Conclusion

APMH maintains a fair, transparent, and globally accessible APC model that supports high-quality open-access publishing. By clearly outlining how APCs are determined, how waivers are provided, and how payments are managed, APMH ensures that authors worldwide can disseminate valuable mental health research without financial barriers or hidden conditions. Authors with questions are encouraged to contact the editorial office for personalized support.