Aims & Scope
Journal of Schizophrenia Disorders And Therapy (JSDT) publishes rigorous research on the behavioral, cognitive, and neurobiological mechanisms underlying schizophrenia spectrum disorders, emphasizing measurement science, psychological processes, and evidence-based assessment methods.
Research Scope: Tiered Structure
Cognitive Neuroscience & Assessment
- Cognitive impairment measurement and validation
- Neuropsychological test development
- Attention and executive function assessment
- Memory systems and working memory deficits
- Processing speed and cognitive efficiency
- Neuroimaging correlates of cognitive dysfunction
"Validation of a novel computerized battery for measuring executive dysfunction in first-episode psychosis: Psychometric properties and neural correlates"
Social Cognition & Behavior
- Theory of mind and mentalizing deficits
- Emotion recognition and processing
- Social perception and attribution biases
- Interpersonal behavior patterns
- Social skills assessment methodologies
- Behavioral markers of social dysfunction
"Eye-tracking paradigms reveal impaired social attention allocation in schizophrenia: A quantitative behavioral analysis"
Symptom Measurement & Psychometrics
- Positive symptom assessment scales
- Negative symptom measurement innovations
- Disorganization and thought disorder metrics
- Psychometric validation studies
- Cross-cultural measurement equivalence
- Ecological momentary assessment methods
"Psychometric evaluation of a brief negative symptom scale: Factor structure and convergent validity across three international samples"
Neurobiology & Brain-Behavior Relationships
- Structural and functional neuroimaging findings
- Neurotransmitter system alterations
- Genetic and epigenetic behavioral correlates
- Neurodevelopmental trajectory studies
- Brain network connectivity patterns
- Neurobiological mechanisms of symptoms
"Resting-state fMRI reveals altered default mode network connectivity associated with negative symptom severity: A dimensional analysis"
Epidemiology & Risk Factors
- Prevalence and incidence studies
- Environmental risk factor identification
- Gene-environment interaction research
- Prodromal phase behavioral markers
- Longitudinal course and outcome predictors
- Population-based cohort studies
Comorbidity & Differential Diagnosis
- Schizoaffective disorder phenomenology
- Autism spectrum disorder overlap
- ADHD comorbidity patterns
- Substance use disorder interactions
- Anxiety and mood disorder comorbidity
- Diagnostic boundary research
Quality of Life & Functional Outcomes
- Functional capacity assessment
- Quality of life measurement
- Occupational functioning predictors
- Social functioning trajectories
- Recovery and resilience factors
- Stigma and discrimination impact
Cultural & Contextual Factors
- Cross-cultural symptom expression
- Cultural influences on illness perception
- Health literacy and mental health knowledge
- Socioeconomic determinants of outcomes
- Migration and minority stress effects
- Cultural adaptation of assessment tools
Computational & Digital Methods
- Machine learning for symptom prediction
- Natural language processing of speech patterns
- Digital phenotyping and passive monitoring
- Computational modeling of cognitive processes
- AI-assisted diagnostic classification
- Virtual reality assessment paradigms
Emerging area submissions undergo additional editorial review for methodological rigor and theoretical contribution.
Novel Assessment Technologies
- Wearable sensor data for behavior tracking
- Smartphone-based ecological assessment
- Telepsychiatry assessment methods
- Gamified cognitive testing platforms
- Biometric markers of symptom states
- Remote monitoring technologies
Must demonstrate clear behavioral science contribution beyond technology description.
Explicit Exclusions: Out of Scope
Clinical Treatment Protocols
Pharmacological treatment studies, medication management guidelines, dosing protocols, and clinical trial reports belong in clinical psychiatry or pharmacology journals. We focus on behavioral mechanisms, not clinical interventions.
Therapeutic Intervention Studies
Cognitive-behavioral therapy protocols, family therapy techniques, psychosocial rehabilitation programs, and occupational therapy interventions are outside our scope. We publish behavioral research, not therapy outcome studies.
Patient Care Guidelines
Clinical practice guidelines, integrated care models, mental health service delivery protocols, and recovery-oriented service descriptions are not within scope. These belong in health services or clinical practice journals.
Purely Biological Studies
Basic neuroscience without behavioral correlates, molecular biology studies, pure pharmacology research, or animal models without clear human behavioral relevance should be submitted to neuroscience or biological psychiatry journals.
Single Case Reports
Individual case studies, clinical vignettes, or small case series without systematic behavioral assessment or theoretical contribution are rarely considered. We prioritize generalizable behavioral science findings.
Alternative Medicine Studies
Herbal remedies, complementary therapies, animal-assisted therapy, or other alternative treatments without rigorous behavioral outcome measurement are outside our evidence-based behavioral science focus.
Article Types & Editorial Priorities
Editorial Standards & Requirements
Reporting Guidelines
- CONSORT for randomized controlled trials
- STROBE for observational studies
- PRISMA for systematic reviews
- STARD for diagnostic accuracy studies
- ARRIVE for animal research (if applicable)
- TRIPOD for prediction model studies
Data & Ethics Requirements
- Open data sharing encouraged (repositories required)
- IRB/ethics committee approval mandatory
- Informed consent documentation required
- Clinical trial registration (if applicable)
- Conflict of interest disclosure
- Funding source transparency
Statistical Standards
- Effect sizes and confidence intervals required
- Power analysis for null findings
- Multiple comparison corrections
- Missing data handling transparency
- Reproducible analysis code encouraged
- Preregistration valued (not required)
Preprint & Publication Policy
- Preprints allowed and encouraged
- No prior publication in peer-reviewed journals
- Conference abstracts acceptable
- Simultaneous submission prohibited
- Plagiarism screening via iThenticate
- Post-publication corrections supported
Journal Performance Metrics
Ready to Submit Your Research?
If your work advances behavioral understanding of schizophrenia through rigorous measurement, cognitive assessment, or neurobiological investigation, we want to hear from you. Review our author guidelines and submit your manuscript today.
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