TB

The British Journal of Psychiatry

The British Journal of Psychiatry (BJPsych) is an international peer-reviewed journal covering all branches of psychiatry with particular emphasis on clinical aspects. Published monthly on behalf of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, it focuses on improving the prevention, investigation, diagnosis, treatment, and care of mental illness, as well as promoting mental health globally. The journal publishes original research articles, editorials, review articles, commentaries, book reviews, and correspondence.

Looking to publish in The British Journal of Psychiatry? Livewrite integrates seamlessly with Word to help you write, edit, and format faster.

Try Livewrite Now
Subject Psychiatry
Impact Factor 7.6
Quartile Q1
Open Access Type Open
ISSN 0007-1250
eISSN 1472-1465
Invitation Only No
Cost Range Eligible authors at participating institutions may publish Gold Open Access at no cost to the author under institutional agreements.

Submission Instructions

The British Journal of Psychiatry accepts the following article types. Click on an article type to view submission instructions.

Original Article

Cover Letter Cover letter is required only if the research is part of or is a whole thesis, in which case this must be disclosed in the covering letter. If the research is part of or is a whole thesis, the cover letter must disclose this.
Abstract Original Articles must include a structured abstract. Abstract must be up to 250–300 words. Abstract must be structured. Abstract headings must be Background; Aims; Method; Results; Conclusions.
Manuscript Manuscript must be 3,000 to 4,000 words excluding references, tables, and figure legends. Main text must include Introduction, Method, Results, and Discussion. Manuscript must include a Declaration of Interest statement, a Funding Statement, a brief author contribution description, and declarations of any AI tool use, and the Discussion must include limitations and end with a summary of the study conclusions.
References Original Articles may include up to 40 essential references beyond those describing statistical procedures, psychometric instruments, and diagnostic guidelines used in the study. References must use Vancouver style. References must be numbered in the order of appearance in the text and list up to six authors before using et al.
Figures & Tables Original Articles may include up to four tables and figures in total in the main article, with additional or oversized items published as online-only supplementary material. Authors must indicate the desired position of each table and figure in the manuscript. Tables must be numbered and referenced in the text, and captions must be provided for all tables and figures.
Reformat to The British Journal of Psychiatry using Livewrite Premium

Review

Cover Letter Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract Review manuscripts must include a structured abstract of up to 250–300 words. Abstract must be up to 250–300 words. Abstract must be structured. Abstract must use the headings Background, Aims, Method, Results, and Conclusions, with the Method heading including data sources, study selections, and synthesis approach.
Manuscript Review manuscripts must not exceed 6,000 words excluding references, tables, and figure legends. Main text must include the sections Introduction, Method, Results, Discussion, and conclusion. Manuscript must include a Declaration of Interest statement, a Funding Statement, availability statements for data, analytic code, and research materials, a brief author contribution description, and acknowledgment or footnote disclosure of any AI-generated text assistance.
References Review manuscripts may include up to 150 essential references in total, with additional references allowed only with permission of the Editor in Chief. References must use Vancouver style. References must be numbered in the order they appear in the text and listed in a numbered reference list at the end of the manuscript.
Figures & Tables Tables and figures identifying the primary findings may be included in print, while additional tables and figures and large tables exceeding one journal page must be included as online-only supplementary material. Authors must indicate the desired position of each table and figure in the manuscript. Tables must be numbered, referenced in the text, and accompanied by captions, and figures must also be accompanied by captions.
Reformat to The British Journal of Psychiatry using Livewrite Premium

Letter

Cover Letter A cover letter must disclose if the research is part of or is a whole thesis. The cover letter must disclose if the research is part of or is a whole thesis.
Abstract Abstract requirements are not specified.
Manuscript Letter manuscripts should be up to 1000 words. Original research cannot be accepted as a Letter. The manuscript must include a Declaration of Interest statement, a Funding Statement, and acknowledgements disclosure of any AI or writing assistance used in drafting.
References Letter manuscripts may include up to 9 essential references. References must use Vancouver style. References must be numbered in the order of appearance and listed in a numbered list at the end of the manuscript.
Figures & Tables Authors must indicate the desired position of each table and figure in the manuscript. Tables must be numbered and both tables and figures must have captions.
Reformat to The British Journal of Psychiatry using Livewrite Premium

Recent Publications

An investigation of recorded physical, domestic and sexual victimisation as risk factors for adverse clinical outcomes in severe mental illness: longitudinal study

Ava Jean Catherine Mason, Vishal Bhavsar, Angus Roberts, Riley Botelle, Giouliana Kadra-Scalzo, Gayan Perera, Robert Stewart

10.1192/bjp.2026.10648
View Publication

A philosopher asks whether therapy should be evaluated like drugs

Sahanika Ratnayake

10.1192/bjp.2026.10674
View Publication

Cognitive and behavioural skills to prevent major depression among adults with subthreshold depression: 50-week follow-up analysis of smartphone CBT randomised trials (RESiLIENT trial)

Tatsuo Akechi, Hisashi Noma, Aran Tajika, Rie Toyomoto, Masatsugu Sakata, Yan Luo, Masaru Horikoshi, Norito Kawakami, Takeo Nakayama, Naoki Kondo, Shingo Fukuma, Toshi A. Furukawa

10.1192/bjp.2026.10630
View Publication

The power of images and the poetics of care: from concepts to existential morphologies

Giovanni Stanghellini

10.1192/bjp.2026.10683
View Publication

War and the nation state: role of leaders

Edgar Jones

10.1192/bjp.2026.10680
View Publication

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to publish?

Median calendar days are tracked for submission to first decision, submission to first decision for peer-reviewed articles, submission to acceptance, and receipt in production to publication.

Reformat to The British Journal of Psychiatry using Livewrite Premium

Is a cover letter required?

A covering letter is required for thesis-based submissions to disclose that the work is part of or is a whole thesis.

Reformat to The British Journal of Psychiatry using Livewrite Premium

What are the publication costs?

Eligible authors at participating institutions may publish Gold Open Access at no cost to the author under institutional agreements.

Reformat to The British Journal of Psychiatry using Livewrite Premium

Research Topics

Mental Health and Psychiatry Schizophrenia research and treatment Psychiatric care and mental health services Diverse Scientific and Economic Studies Mental Health Treatment and Access Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications Treatment of Major Depression Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development Child and Adolescent Health Bipolar Disorder and Treatment Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments Legal case studies and regulations Electroconvulsive Therapy Studies Suicide and Self-Harm Studies Historical Psychiatry and Medical Practices Neurology and Historical Studies Healthcare Decision-Making and Restraints Personality Disorders and Psychopathology Academic Publishing and Open Access Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life Human auditory perception and evaluation Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes Nutrition, Health, and Society Studies Mental Health Research Topics Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders

Related Journals

BP
BMC Psychiatry BioMed Central
CP
Cambridge Prisms Global Mental Health Cambridge University Press
ED
Eating Disorders Taylor & Francis
PS
Psychiatric Services American Psychiatric Association
EN
European Neuropsychopharmacology Elsevier BV
JO
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Elsevier BV