The Archives of Psychiatry and Mental Health (APMH) establishes this comprehensive Publication Ethics Policy to safeguard research integrity, protect the scientific record, and ensure ethical conduct throughout the publication lifecycle. Designed in alignment with COPE, ICMJE, WAME, and DOAJ standards, the policy elaborates in detail the responsibilities, expectations, and accountability mechanisms governing authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher. It builds upon ethical foundations present on the journal’s earlier site and modernizes them to comply with today’s international scholarly publishing requirements.

Scope and Purpose of This Policy

This Publication Ethics Policy applies to:

All manuscripts submitted to APMH
All article types (original research, reviews, clinical studies, case reports, perspectives, editorials)
All participants in the publication process
Pre- and post-publication ethical concerns

Its purpose is to:

Ensure high-quality, ethically sound scientific publishing
Promote responsible research practices
Prevent academic misconduct
Offer clear pathways for managing ethical breaches

Ethical Standards for Authors

Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must ensure that:

All submitted work is original
Borrowed content is properly attributed
Text is not improperly paraphrased
Permissions are secured for copyrighted materials

Submissions are checked using similarity detection software and evaluated manually by editors.

Data Accuracy and Transparency

Authors must:

Provide accurate and unmanipulated data
Disclose statistical methods transparently
Describe protocols sufficiently for reproducibility
Retain raw data and provide it upon request

Intentional data fabrication or falsification constitutes severe misconduct.

Human and Animal Research Ethics

Authors must confirm:

IRB/ethics committee approval for human studies
Informed consent from participants
Animal studies adhere to humane treatment guidelines
Participant identities are protected

Studies involving vulnerable individuals require heightened safeguards.

Authorship Responsibilities

APMH follows ICMJE criteria for authorship:

Substantial contribution to conception, design, data collection, or data analysis
Drafting or critically revising the article
Final approval of the manuscript
Accountability for accuracy and integrity

Improper authorship practices include:

Gift or honorary authorship
Ghost authorship
Undisclosed editorial assistance

Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose:

Financial relationships
Professional connections
Personal relationships affecting the work
Funding source involvement

Publisher Responsibilities

The publisher ensures:

Editorial independence
Confidential management of manuscripts
Transparency of policies and practices
Permanent digital archiving
Conflict-of-interest management

The publisher does not influence editorial decision-making.

Editor Responsibilities

Editors act as custodians of scholarly integrity. Their responsibilities include:

Fair and impartial manuscript evaluation
Ensuring double-blind review confidentiality
Identifying ethical issues and misconduct
Recusing themselves when conflicts exist
Implementing COPE procedures for investigations

Editors must base their decisions solely on manuscript quality and relevance.

Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers support publication ethics through:

Objective and thorough manuscript evaluation
Identifying methodological weaknesses or ethical issues
Maintaining strict confidentiality
Declining reviews involving conflicts of interest
Providing constructive feedback

Reviewers must avoid:

Using manuscript information for personal benefit
Sharing manuscripts with unauthorized parties
Submitting biased or unprofessional reviews

Misconduct and Investigative Procedures

APMH takes allegations of misconduct seriously and investigates both pre- and post-publication concerns. Misconduct includes:

Plagiarism
Data falsification or fabrication
Unethical or unauthorized research
Peer-review tampering
Improper authorship practices
Undisclosed conflicts of interest

Investigation Steps

Initial assessment by editors
Request for explanation from authors
Consultation with reviewers or independent experts
Application of COPE flowcharts

Outcomes

Correction
Retraction
Publication of an Expression of Concern
Manuscript rejection
Author sanctions
Notification to institutions

Ethical Considerations in Article Types

Case Reports

Must include informed consent from patients or their guardians.

Clinical Studies

Must present IRB approval, participant consent procedures, and trial registration numbers.

Qualitative Research

Must detail confidentiality measures, anonymization strategies, and cultural sensitivity considerations.

Review Articles

Must ensure comprehensive citation and avoid plagiarism of explanatory text.

AI-Assisted Writing

Authors must disclose the use of AI tools. AI may not generate fabricated citations or unverified claims.

Transparency Requirements

Authors must include:

Funding statements
Conflict-of-interest declarations
Ethics approval statements
Trial registration numbers

Retractions, Corrections, and Updates

APMH ensures preservation of the scientific record through:

Transparent correction notices
Prompt retractions when necessary
Permanent accessibility of retraction statements
Version control for updated content

Real-World Scenario

Scenario: A researcher submits a manuscript using patient case images. During editorial screening, the editors discover that consent forms do not mention image publication. APMH requires explicit consent for identifiable visuals. The authors revise the manuscript by anonymizing images and providing updated consent. The decision protects patient privacy while allowing publication of scientifically valuable work.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What if ethical approval was not required?: Authors must provide justification and cite institutional policy or national regulations.
Q: Can authors appeal ethical decisions?: Yes. Appeals must provide clear evidence supporting reconsideration.
Q: Does APMH investigate anonymous allegations?: Yes, if sufficient evidence is provided.
Q: Are sanctions permanent?: Sanctions vary and may be temporary or long-term depending on the misconduct.
Q: Does publication ethics apply after publication?: Yes. Ethical responsibility continues throughout the life of the published article.

Conclusion

The Publication Ethics Policy of APMH safeguards the integrity of mental health scholarship by ensuring transparency, accountability, and adherence to global ethical guidelines. Through robust standards for authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher, the journal advances trustworthy science and protects the scholarly record.