Journal information

As the principal publication of the Global Alliance for Behavioral Health and Social Justiceopens in new window, the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry® (AJO) reflects the Alliance’s goal of informing policy, practice, and research concerning behavioral health, social justice, and well-being. Consistent with that mission, the journal publishes articles that clarify, challenge, or reshape the prevailing understanding of factors in the prevention and correction of injustice and in the sustainable development of a humane and just society. AJO publishes theoretical, analytic, and empirical articles on topics related to the Alliance’s historic values and themes and that contain clear implications for clinical practice, prevention, public health, law, and/or social policy.

AJO is an interdisciplinary journal, publishing the work of scholars and researchers in anthropology, criminology, law, nursing, psychiatry, psychology, social work, sociology, public administration, public health, and other disciplines.

Contemporary topics in AJO’s topical scope include, but are not limited to, public behavioral health and prevention; institutional reform; causes and solutions to behavioral healthcare disparities; adaption of behavioral health methods to the needs of racial, ethnic, cultural and other minority groups; responses to natural and human-made disasters; immigrants and refugees; underserved behavioral health populations; protection of vulnerable people; and sociocultural dimensions of behavioral health problems.

Articles published by AJO are generally one of three types:

• First and most conventionally, scholars interested in the topical domains that are within AJO’s scope are encouraged to submit individual manuscripts for consideration.
• Second, AJO occasionally invites leading scholars to edit special sections or issues on topics of particular interest. These special features typically contain articles which are solicited by the guest editor who coordinates initial reviews of the manuscripts that are submitted in response to invitations.
• Third, AJO includes a unique outlet for authors called Social Innovations. Ideal submissions for Social Innovations articles propose a novel paradigm shift. These articles are intended to promote conversation about new approaches and practical strategies for behavioral health and social justice.

Disclaimer: APA and the editors of the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry assume no responsibility for statements and opinions advanced by the authors of its articles.