Editorial independence in biomedical publishing

Unlike my other editorials published in AP J Psychol Med, the views expressed in this editorial are not completely my own; hence, most of the information is in quotes. I tried to summarize the published literature related to editorial independence. The sole aim is to make all the stakeholders aware of the concept of ‘editorial independence’. The societies have the duty to create an atmosphere where editors feel secure. With humility I would say, to my knowledge this is the only published article on ‘editorial independence’ from India, and possibly other neighbouring countries. Let me sincerely say, this is not a grandiose expression. I stand to be corrected.

Ethics committee approval for academic research: is it a workable proposition in developing countries

This editorial aims to draw attention of journal editors and policy makers to a very pertinent question related to publishing. The mandatory requirement of ethics committee (EC) approval is a much needed regulation in light of serious human rights violations in past. However, it may not be always feasible for researchers to comply with this equirement. There is a need to develop some guidelines as to how such instances should be dealt with. This is not a regressive approach. The AP J Psychol Med is very much aware and concerned about the protection of the rights of study participants, and endorses the publication requirements of various organizations.

Mental health research is not just administering rating scales

This editorial is the outcome of my clinical, academic and research experience. With due respect to all stake holders, I wish to point out that mental health research has neglected this important aspect; namely, unqualified and untrained people administering and interpreting various rating scales and other assessment instruments. In this paper, I discuss why this issue is so important, and suggest what authorities, especially journal editors could do.

Duplicate/redundant publications : quality should take precedence over quantity

The ultimate purpose of research is ‘advancement of knowledge’. All other motives should be secondary. However, that does not seem to be the practice. There are various forms of ‘publication frauds’, one such form is duplicate/redundant publications. According to Committee On Publication Ethics (COPE), issues related to authorship and duplicate publication are the most common types of ethical problems. Duplicate publication occurs when there is partial or complete duplication of data from the same piece of work without proper declaration. The practice was always there, and is on the rise. This editorial is written with an intention to increase awareness regarding this important issue.

Economics of mental health: Part II- Investing in and planning for mental health services - the evidence

Background : The economic costs and proportion of disease burden attributable to mental, emotional and behavioural disorders (MEBs) is enormous. This emphasizes on the need for treating the MEBs. Choosing the most cost effective intervention is the key aspect in planning mental health services. Objective: The aim of the present article is to review the studies on cost-effective interventions for MEBs. Methodology: A review of various studies on the above subject was done using Google Scholar and PubMed. Results: Most of these studies are from developed countries. Many of them are conducted by World Health Organization (WHO). There is paucity of data on cost-effectiveness of interventions in the developing world. There are cost-effective interventions available for most of the MEBs. Conclusions: There are cost-effective interventions for MEBs. The available cost-effective strategies need to be incorporated with necessary modifications to tailor to the local needs. Proper planning is crucial for successful approach to mental health. Prevention is the most cost-effective strategy

Economics of mental health: Part I - Economic consequences of neglecting mental health - an Indian perspective

Background: Mental health is not a priority area for policy makers even today. Objective: The objective of the present review is to sensitize policy makers regarding the importance of investing in mental health. Appraising the policy makers about the costs of mental illness and the negative economic consequences of poor investment in mental health on the society are the aims. Methodology: A review of various studies on the above subject was done using Google Scholar and PubMed. Results: Most of the studies are from World Health Organization (WHO). There is paucity of studies from the developing world. The costs of mental illnesses are high. The indirect costs are much higher than direct costs. Mental illnesses impact not only the individuals but also the family and society at large. Conclusions: The indirect costs of mental illnesses are much higher than the direct costs i.e. the negative economic consequences of not treating the mental illness is much higher than the costs of treatment as concluded by the World Economic Forum. Mental health and socio-economic development appear to go hand in hand. Investing in mental health is therefore investing for development.

Conflict of interest declaration: why and what constitutes as responsible and ethical declaration?

This is one among a series of editorials related to ethics in publication. The present editorial deals with a key issue of the declaration of conflicts of interest (COI), which all stake holders, especially authors should be aware of. Such issues are now mandatory ethical requirements and not just for name sake. Broadly speaking, COI comes into existence when someone's position may be influenced by his vested interests. World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) says 'journals have a responsibility to raise awareness and educate the research community about COI.'

An overview of the use of newer antiepileptic drugs in psychiatry

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are increasingly being used for psychiatric indications. Few of them have FDA approval,while many others are used off-label. The objective of this article is to give an overview of the use of newer AEDs inthe treatment of psychiatric disorders.