Journal of Abnormal Psychology® Editor: David Watson, PhD ISSN: 0021-843x Published Quarterly, beginning in February

Call for Papers: Special Section on Enhancing the Taxonomy of Psychopathology

The Journal of Abnormal Psychology invites submissions of manuscripts that examine significant taxonomic problems in the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., text rev.; DSM–IV–TR; American Psychiatric Association, 2000) and that propose potential solutions to these problems.

The editors will consider both reviews of the literature and empirical studies for publication in this special section. Submitted manuscripts can address any area of psychopathology (including both child and adult) and can be either broad (i.e., cover a range of current disorders) or relatively narrow (e.g., examine specific aspects of a disorder) in scope.

Submitted papers can address a variety of topics, including

1. calls for fundamental changes (e.g., alternative models) to the current multiaxial organization of the DSM;
2. examinations of design and data analytic issues that should guide taxonomic revisions;
3. suggestions for modifying existing diagnoses (e.g., proposed changes to current symptom criteria) to improve their validity and clinical utility;
4. proposals for the creation of subtypes within existing disorders;
5. proposals for the creation of new syndromes or new diagnostic classes.

The goal of this special section is to encourage the publication of compelling arguments and persuasive data that will have a positive impact on the development of an adequate, scientifically based taxonomy of psychopathology. Papers are expected to be thorough, thoughtful, and balanced in their presentation of important taxonomic problems and solutions.

Papers for this special section should be submitted through the journal's Web portal (see the Instructions to Authors page for details) with a note in the cover letter requesting consideration for inclusion in the special section on taxonomy. Submitted papers will be handled by the journal's regular editors and will be subjected to the normal peer-review process.

The deadline for submissions is October 31, 2009.

The anticipated publication date for the special section is late 2010. Please address questions or inquiries regarding this section to the journal office.