JCP at 80: Continuing a Tradition of Excellence

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JCP at 80: Continuing a Tradition of Excellence

It is an honor to mark the occasion of the 80th anniversary of The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry as its Editor in Chief. It is humbling to have served in this role for 1 year, in great appreciation that JCP has been serving our field for 80. Despite the changes to publishing and the evolution of the field of psychiatry, JCP has been a durable presence.

JCP would not be possible without the dedication of its authors, peer reviewers, editorial board members, and special section editors and the team at Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc. Its publisher, Dr John Shelton, has carried forward a family business that began with this journal as its flagship and has expanded to include CME offerings as well as a sister journal, The Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders. As the number of journals, particularly new online journals, has skyrocketed, JCP remains a trusted home for high-quality work that serves an audience of clinically oriented, multidisciplinary mental health care providers, researchers, and educators. The Journal has also allied with the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology, founded in 1992 to advance the science and practice of psychopharmacology, as its official society journal.

I have been formally involved with JCP for 18 years, beginning as an editorial board member in 2001 and serving as Deputy Editor from 2003 to 2007, Vice-Editor in Chief from 2007 to 2017, and now Editor in Chief since the beginning of 2018. I started my service to JCP as a peer reviewer, and in my mind, this is the most underrated role in which we can serve the journals that move our field forward. Due to the anonymous nature of the role, individual gain is minimal. Peer review, though, is a major component of the success and staying power of the journal. The quality, integrity, and “fit” of the work that we bring to our readers depend on the peer review process. The community behind the scenes—peer reviewers across the world, with many areas of expertise—sustains our efforts.

We in psychiatry are fortunate to work in an area with thriving research and an exciting pipeline of pharmacologic and non-medication treatments. There is still a great need for new treatments, and JCP will remain a critical vehicle in the dissemination of research findings that will advance clinical research and ultimately help people with psychiatric disorders to experience improved care and quality of life.

I believe that as the Journal advances in age, its success will depend upon the mentorship and education of those who will fill the roles of peer reviewer, editorial board member, and editor in the future. I strongly encourage early career psychiatrists to engage in peer review and more senior colleagues to mentor junior colleagues and trainees in review, academic writing, and service to the field in a broad sense. Publication of a paper requires stewardship at each step of the way. JCP carries on a proud tradition, and I am confident it will continue to do so in the future.

Marlene P. Freeman, MD

Editor in Chief