Instructions for Authors: Open Inquiry in Mental Health

Article Length and Format

Manuscripts should be 1,600–2,000 words in length (excluding references, key words, and abstract, which are required for all submissions). We ask that key words be standard terms used in academic searches. Articles should be concise yet substantive, each offering numerous novel insights on a specific overlooked issue in mental health care. Broad or diffuse treatments of a topic are discouraged in favor of more narrowly focused, specific, and well-developed arguments.

Submissions should be organized into four to five subheadings for clarity (e.g., Background, Clinical Implications, Interventions, Research Directions, Conclusion). Bullet points and lists may be used where appropriate to aid readability; make no more than one point per bullet point. The structure should make each paper engaging from start to finish, rather than overly tedious with insights buried later in the piece. Bullet points are recommended as a way to list numerous insights succinctly.

Style and Tone

The journal’s unique format blends scholarly rigor with accessibility. Please do not use first person or engage in self-promotion. If jargon or technical terms are used, please explain them for a general audience. Articles should be:

• balanced: Avoid all insults, inflammatory or demeaning language, polemics, and hyperbole. Avoid straw men and where possible engage charitably with opposing arguments. This is most needed for the most controversial claims;

• direct: Strive to be courageous and direct in addressing problems even when they’re controversial, and avoid vagueness, overly defensive or apologetic writing, or obfuscation;

• useful: offering clear takeaways for therapists, patients, educators, policymakers, and the public;

• insightful: presenting innovative claims, specific examples, and concrete implications;

• engaging: readable by both professionals and educated lay audiences; and

• clinical and therapeutic: focused on improving patient care, with examples from practice or personal experience where relevant.

Types of Contributions

Articles may include, but are not limited to:

• reviews of relevant literature,

• clinical case examples (de-identified),

• observational or theoretical analyses,

• reflections on cultural and societal influences on mental health,

• descriptions of how overlooked issues manifest in therapy,

• proposals for interventions or treatment approaches, and

• identification of gaps in research, training, and theory.

Authors are not expected to address all categories; each article should focus on the single most relevant angles for its chosen topic.

References and Citations

• Articles must include a minimum of three peer-reviewed citations from the past 10 years.

• There is no upper limit on citations, though authors should prioritize relevance.

• References should be formatted in AMA style (11th edition). Drafts will be accepted in APA style if needed, and then adjusted to AMA in editorial.

• In-text hyperlinks may be used for non-peer-reviewed sources (e.g., news articles, reports, books from reputable publishers). For all in-text hyperlinks, please also include an in-text citation. Use short, descriptive anchor text for hyperlinks (a few relevant words only). Do not hyperlink long phrases, full sentences, or entire paragraphs. Hyperlinks should be stable and point to authoritative sites (e.g., publisher websites rather than Amazon).

• Wikipedia, blogs, and other non-authoritative sources are not permitted.

• Self-citations are acceptable but should be used sparingly and not for self-promotion.

Submission and Review Process

All manuscripts undergo blind peer review. The editorial team may request revisions to ensure accessibility, clarity, and alignment with the journal’s mission. Authors should anticipate an iterative process and allow time for review and resubmission.

Ethical Standards

Authors are responsible for:

• ensuring that any clinical material is fully de-identified and compliant with confidentiality requirements;

• adhering to ethical standards for human participant research, where applicable;

• declaring any potential conflicts of interest;

• not using generative AI to write drafts without disclosing how it was used to the editors; and

• following all other relevant professional and legal guidelines around ethics and conduct.

For more information, visit opentherapyinstitute.org/journal