Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy®
Announcement
• Call for nominations for new editor
Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy® publishes empirical research on the psychological effects of trauma. The journal is intended to be a forum for an interdisciplinary discussion on trauma, blending science, theory, practice, and policy.
The journal publishes empirical research on a wide range of trauma-related topics, including
- Psychological treatments and effects
- Promotion of education about effects of and treatment for trauma
- Assessment and diagnosis of trauma
- Pathophysiology of trauma reactions
- Health services (delivery of services to trauma populations)
- Epidemiological studies and risk factor studies
- Neuroimaging studies
- Trauma and cultural competence
The journal publishes articles that use experimental and correlational methods and qualitative analyses, if applicable.
All research reports should reflect methodologically rigorous designs that aim to significantly enhance the field's understanding of trauma. Such reports should be based on good theoretical foundations and integrate theory and data. Manuscripts should be of sufficient length to ensure theoretical and methodological competence.
Editor
Steven N. Gold
Nova Southeastern University
Manuscript Coordinator
Amy Ellis
Nova Southeastern University
Associate Editors:
Thema Bryant-Davis
Pepperdine University
Constance J. Dalenberg
Alliant International University
Jan Faust
Nova Southeastern University
Casey Taft
National Center for PTSD, Boston, Boston University School of Medicine
Associate Editors, Statistics
Daniel King
National Center for PTSD, Boston, Boston University School of Medicine
Lynda King
National Center for PTSD, Boston, Boston University School of Medicine
Consulting Editors
Pamela C. Alexander
Wellesley College
Jon G. Allen
The Menninger Clinic
Judie Alpert
New York University
George A. Bonanno
Teachers College, Columbia University
Bethany Brand
Towson University
Doug Bremner
Emory University, Briarcliff Campus
Chris R. Brewin
University College London
Laura S. Brown
Fremont Community Therapy Project
Rebecca Campbell
Michigan State University
Etzel Cardeña
Lund University
Eve B. Carlson
National Center for PTSD
Eduardo H. Cazabat
Argentine Society for Psychotrauma, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Catherine C. Classen
University of Toronto
Joan M. Cook
Yale School of Medicine
Mark Creamer
University of Melbourne
Lisa DeMarni Cromer
University of Tulsa
Andrea Danese
King's College, London, UK
Priscilla Dass-Brailsford
Lesley University
Paul F. Dell
Trauma Recovery Center
Daniel Dodgen
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Jon D. Elhai
University of Toledo
Edna Foa
University of Pennsylvania
Victoria Follette
University of Nevada, Reno
David Forbes
Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Health
Julian Ford
University of Connecticut Health Center
Mary Gail Frawley-O'Dea
Manhattan Institute for Psychoanalysis
Jennifer J. Freyd
University of Oregon
Bob Geffner
Alliant International University
Sandra A. Graham-Bermann
University of Michigan
Bonnie L. Green
Georgetown University Medical School
Muhammad M. Haj-Yahia
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
L. Kevin Hamberger
Medical College of Wisconsin
Patricia Hashima
Clemson University
Stevan Hobfoll
Kent State University
David Read Johnson
Atlanta VA Medical Center
Russell Jones
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Terence Keane
VA Boston Healthcare System
Maureen C. Kenny
Florida International University
Ibrahim Aref Kira
Center for Cumulative Trauma Studies
Robert Jay Lifton
Cambridge Health Alliance
David Lisak
Forensic Consultant
Grant N. Marshall
RAND Corporation
Brian P. Marx
National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System
Mark W. Miller
National Center for PTSD at VA Boston Health Care System & Boston University School of Medicine
Linda R. Mona
VA Long Beach Healthcare System
Lisa M. Najavits
Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System and Boston University School of Medicine
Nnamdi Pole
Smith College
Robert Rosenheck
Yale Medical School, VA Connecticut Health Care System
Barbara O. Rothbaum
Emory University School of Medicine
Josef I. Ruzek
National Center for PTSD and VA Palo Alto Health Care System
Karen W. Saakvitne
Trauma Research Education, and Training Institute, Smith School of Social Work, Doctoral Program
Daniel G. Saunders
University of Michigan
Jeremiah A. Schumm
VA Medical Center, Trauma Recovery Center
Julia S. Seng
University of Michigan
Francine Shapiro
Mental Resarch Institute
Phyllis W. Sharps
Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
Eli Somer
University of Haifa
Robert D. Stolorow
Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis
Elisa Triffleman
Independent practice
Onno van der Hart
Utrecht University
Bessel van der Kolk
Boston University School of Medicine
Dawne S. Vogt
VA Boston Healthcare and Boston University School of Medicine
Frank W. Weathers
Auburn University
Erika J. Wolf
National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System (116B-2)
Abstracting and indexing services providing coverage of Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy®
- CINAHL Plus
- Current Contents
- Embase
- Emcare
- Geobase
- Journal Citation Reports / Social Sciences Edition
- Journals@Ovid
- Mosby Nursing Consult
- Mosby's Index
- PsycINFO
- PsycLine
- SCOPUS
- Social Sciences Citation Index
- Target Insights
Prior to submission, please carefully read and follow the submission guidelines detailed below. Manuscripts that do not conform to the submission guidelines may be returned without review.
Submission
Submit manuscripts electronically through the Manuscript Submission Portal (.doc or .docx files).
Steven N. Gold, PhD
Nova Southeastern University
Center for Psychological Studies
3301 College Ave.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314
General correspondence may be directed to the Editor's Office.
Authors must indicate in their cover letter whether they prefer masked or unmasked peer review. If anonymous review is requested, all author's names, their affiliations, and contact information will be removed by the manuscript coordinator.
In addition to addresses and phone numbers, please supply email addresses and fax numbers for use by the editorial office and later by the production office. Most correspondence between the editorial office and authors is handled by email, so a valid email address is important to the timely flow of communication during the editorial process.
Keep a copy of the manuscript to guard against loss.
Length
Manuscripts for Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy can vary in length, but may not exceed 28 double-spaced manuscript pages (including title page, abstract, manuscript body, references, and tables/figures.) Manuscripts that exceed this length may be returned without review.
While Psychological Trauma primarily publishes original empirical studies, we are also open to reviewing high quality literature reviews and clinical, theoretical and policy articles.
Manuscript Preparation
Prepare manuscripts according to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th edition). Manuscripts may be copyedited for bias-free language (see Chapter 3 of the Publication Manual).
Review APA's Checklist for Manuscript Submission before submitting your article.
If your manuscript was mask reviewed, please ensure that the final version for production includes a byline and full author note for typesetting.
Double-space all copy. Other formatting instructions, as well as instructions on preparing tables, figures, references, metrics, and abstracts, appear in the Manual.
Below are additional instructions regarding the preparation of display equations and tables.
Display Equations
We strongly encourage you to use MathType (third-party software) or Equation Editor 3.0 (built into pre-2007 versions of Word) to construct your equations, rather than the equation support that is built into Word 2007 and Word 2010. Equations composed with the built-in Word 2007/Word 2010 equation support are converted to low resolution graphics when they enter the production process and must be rekeyed by the typesetter, which may introduce errors.
To construct your equations with MathType or Equation Editor 3.0:
- Go to the Text section of the Insert tab and select Object.
- Select MathType or Equation Editor 3.0 in the drop-down menu.
If you have an equation that has already been produced using Microsoft Word 2007 or 2010 and you have access to the full version of MathType 6.5 or later, you can convert this equation to MathType by clicking on MathType Insert Equation. Copy the equation from Microsoft Word and paste it into the MathType box. Verify that your equation is correct, click File, and then click Update. Your equation has now been inserted into your Word file as a MathType Equation.
Use Equation Editor 3.0 or MathType only for equations or for formulas that cannot be produced as Word text using the Times or Symbol font.
Tables
Use Word's Insert Table function when you create tables. Using spaces or tabs in your table will create problems when the table is typeset and may result in errors.
Submitting Supplemental Materials
APA can now place supplementary materials online, available via the published article in the PsycARTICLES® database. Please see Supplementing Your Article With Online Material for more details.
Abstract and Keywords
All manuscripts must include an abstract containing a maximum of 250 words typed on a separate page. After the abstract, please supply up to five keywords or brief phrases.
References
List references in alphabetical order. Each listed reference should be cited in text, and each text citation should be listed in the References section.
Examples of basic reference formats:
Journal Article:
Herbst-Damm, K. L., & Kulik, J. A. (2005). Volunteer support, marital status, and the survival times of terminally ill patients. Health Psychology, 24, 225–229. doi: 10.1037/0278-6133.24.2.225
Authored Book:
Mitchell, T. R., & Larson, J. R., Jr. (1987). People in organizations: An introduction to organizational behavior (3rd ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Chapter in an Edited Book:
Bjork, R. A. (1989). Retrieval inhibition as an adaptive mechanism in human memory. In H. L. Roediger III & F. I. M. Craik (Eds.), Varieties of memory & consciousness (pp. 309–330). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Figures
Graphics files are welcome if supplied as Tiff, EPS, or PowerPoint files. The minimum line weight for line art is 0.5 point for optimal printing.
When possible, please place symbol legends below the figure instead of to the side.
Original color figures can be printed in color at the editor's and publisher's discretion provided the author agrees to pay
- $255 for one figure
- $425 for two figures
- $575 for three figures
- $675 for four figures
- $55 for each additional figure
Permissions
Authors of accepted papers must obtain and provide to the editor on final acceptance all necessary permissions to reproduce in print and electronic form any copyrighted work, including, for example, test materials (or portions thereof) and photographs of people.
Download Permissions Alert Form (PDF, 47KB)
Publication Policies
APA policy prohibits an author from submitting the same manuscript for concurrent consideration by two or more publications.
See also APA Journals® Internet Posting Guidelines.
APA requires authors to reveal any possible conflict of interest in the conduct and reporting of research (e.g., financial interests in a test or procedure, funding by pharmaceutical companies for drug research).
Download Disclosure of Interests Form (PDF, 38KB)
Authors of accepted manuscripts are required to transfer the copyright to APA.
Download Publication Rights (Copyright Transfer) Form (PDF, 83KB)
Ethical Principles
It is a violation of APA Ethical Principles to publish "as original data, data that have been previously published" (Standard 8.13).
In addition, APA Ethical Principles specify that "after research results are published, psychologists do not withhold the data on which their conclusions are based from other competent professionals who seek to verify the substantive claims through reanalysis and who intend to use such data only for that purpose, provided that the confidentiality of the participants can be protected and unless legal rights concerning proprietary data preclude their release" (Standard 8.14).
APA expects authors to adhere to these standards. Specifically, APA expects authors to have their data available throughout the editorial review process and for at least 5 years after the date of publication.
Authors are required to state in writing that they have complied with APA ethical standards in the treatment of their sample, human or animal, or to describe the details of treatment.
Download Certification of Compliance With APA Ethical Principles Form (PDF, 26KB)
The APA Ethics Office provides the full Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct electronically on their website in HTML, PDF, and Word format. You may also request a copy by emailing or calling the APA Ethics Office (202-336-5930). You may also read "Ethical Principles," December 1992, American Psychologist, Vol. 47, pp. 1597–1611.
Other Information
- Trauma-Focused Training and Education
Special issue of the APA journal Psychological Trauma, Vol. 3, No. 3, September 2011. Articles discuss trauma education and training in undergraduate, graduate, and community contexts.
- Cultural Considerations of Trauma
Special issue of the APA journal Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, Vol. 2, No. 4, December 2010. Articles discuss cultural factors in intimate partner violence among African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, homeless women, HIV-positive women, and pregnant women.
- Trauma and Ethnoracial Diversity
Special issue of APA's journal Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, Vol. 2, No. 1, March 2010. Includes articles about ethic group comparisons and trauma-related factors among Latinos, African Americans, and Asian Americans.


