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Journal of Pediatric Psychology, Vol. 28, No. 3, 2003, pp. 173
© 2003 Society of Pediatric Psychology
Editorial: The Journal of Pediatric Psychology Will Support the Publication of Clinical Trials
Medical University of South Carolina
All correspondence should be sent to Ronald T. Brown, Medical University of South Carolina, 19 Hagood Avenue, Suite 910, P.O. Box 250822, Charleston, South Carolina 29425. E-mail: brownron{at}musc.edu.
Over the past several years, particularly with the emergence of evidence-based medicine and empirically supported treatments, the Journal of Pediatric Psychology has been interested in the publication of controlled clinical trials related to interventions in pediatric psychology. Nonetheless, manuscripts related to intervention in pediatric psychology have been slow to appear in JPP's pages, and there is a dearth of these articles in the extant pediatric psychology literature. As editor of JPP, I believe that, in part, it is the responsibility of the senior scholars in the community to assist young and mid-level investigators who embark on such uncharted territory. Thus, the associate editors and I have made specific plans that we trust will stimulate an increase in the publication of clinical trials in JPP particularly over the next 5 years.
First, for those investigators who plan to initiate clinical trials and who plan to publish the eventual manuscript in JPP, we will provide consultation at any stage of the research process, including assistance in the planning of a research design as well as developing methodology for the study and statistical consultation and manuscript preparation as well. Of course, we cannot anticipate the demand at this point, but we will endeavor to provide consultation to any interested investigators.
For those clinical trials that meet the CONSORT guideline, I will assure rapid publication of the manuscript once it has been accepted for publication in JPP. Thus, while publication lag time for most manuscripts frequently ranges from 6 months to 1 year, I will expedite this process by assuring production of the manuscript in the next issue prepared by the editorial office for production. All clinical trials meeting the CONSORT guidelines also will be identified by a special heading noting that the article is a clinical trial similar to Presidential Addresses as well as other award addresses that are published in JPP.
Finally, JPP has a mechanism for the potential acceptance of manuscripts that represent the first stage toward a clinical trial yet may fall short of the rigorous methodology in the CONSORT guidelines. For a manuscript that reviewers deem potentially stimulating for additional research, yet not quite meeting the rigorous criteria of the CONSORT guidelines, the author may be invited to prepare a brief report of 12 pages (see guidelines for Brief Reports, Vol. 28, No. 1).
These steps, we hope, will further stimulate controlled clinical trials in pediatric psychology. We need empirically validated treatments that attest to the efficacy of clinical activities valued by our patient populations. I suspect that in the years to come, empirical validation of treatments may be the standard of care as required by insurance carriers and other third party providers. We hope that this partnership between the Journal of Pediatric Psychology and the research community will synergize research efforts that we trust will improve the quality of life for the children and adolescents we serve.
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