Content Types

Nature Mental Health will publish the following articles:

  • Article
  • Analysis
  • Review*
  • Perspective*
  • Comment*
  • Correspondence*
  • Matters Arising

For more information on these content types, please contact Nature Mental Health:

  • News & Views*    
  • Books & Arts*
  • Feature*
  • News Feature*
  • Q&A*

*These content types should not include original (previously unpublished) research findings and may only contain minimal new supporting data. As they are non-primary articles they are not eligible for Open Access and can only be published using the subscription-based publishing route.

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Article

Nature Mental Health publishes original research in one format, Article, which may range from what are typically considered to be short 'communications', through to more in-depth studies. Regardless of the length, an Article is a substantial novel research study of general interest and/or utility to the community.

Articles are peer-reviewed and include received/accepted dates.

Format

  • Main text – up to 3,000 words, excluding abstract, methods, references and figure/table captions.
  • Abstract – up to 150 words, unreferenced. 
  • Display items – up to 6 items (figures and/or tables; please note that we do not use schemes). 
  • Article should be divided as follows: 
  • Introduction (without heading) of referenced text that expands on the background of the work (some overlap with the Abstract is acceptable).
  • Results & Discussion: The Introduction is followed by separate sections headed 'Results' and 'Discussion'. The Results section may be divided by topical subheadings, but the Discussion section should be succinct and may not contain subheadings. If the results and discussion are intertwined throughout the manuscript, then you may instead use the heading 'Results and discussion' – in this case, we strongly encourage you to use subheadings to break up the text and help the reader navigate the article.
  • Conclusions: Authors may include a section called ‘Conclusions’ at the end of the paper.
  • Methods: Authors are encouraged to include a Methods section. This should not exceed 3,000 words and should be subdivided by topical subheadings as appropriate. The Methods section cannot contain figures or tables (essential display items should be included as Extended Data figures or as part of the main Supplementary Information PDF file), but non-graphical equations are permitted.
  • References – as a guideline, we typically recommend up to 50.
  • Articles may be accompanied by supplementary information.

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Analysis

An Analysis is a new analysis of existing data, describes new data obtained in a comparative analysis or introduces a new simulation or model that leads to novel and arresting conclusions of importance to a broad audience. Systematic reviews or meta-analyses of primary research literature in the public health and biomedical fields, or in the social sciences, can also be accommodated by this format.

Format

  • Main text – up to 4,000 words (excluding abstract, online Methods, references and figure legends).
  • Abstract – 100–150 words, unreferenced. 
  • Display items – up to 8 items (figures and/or tables). 
  • Analyses should be divided as follows: 
  • Introduction (without heading) 
  • Results
  • Discussion
  • Online Methods. ​
  • Results and online Methods should be divided by topical subheadings; the Discussion does not contain subheadings.  
  • References – as a guideline, we typically recommend up to 50.
  • Analyses include received/accepted dates. 
  • Analyses may be accompanied by supplementary information. 
  • Analyses are peer reviewed.

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Review

A Review is an authoritative, balanced and scholarly survey of recent developments in a research field. Although Reviews should be recognized as scholarly by specialists in the field, they should be written with a view to informing non-specialist readers. Reviews should therefore be written using simple prose, avoiding excessive jargon and technical detail. 

The scope of a Review should be broad enough that it is not dominated by the work of a single research institution, and particularly not by the authors' own work. Unpublished primary research data are not permitted in Reviews.

Reviews include received/accepted dates. Reviews are peer-reviewed to ensure factual accuracy, appropriate citations and scholarly balance; they are edited by the journal editors in consultation with the authors.

Reviews are usually commissioned by the editors, so it is advisable to send a pre-submission enquiry including a synopsis before preparing a manuscript for formal submission.

Format

  • Abstract – up to 150 words, unreferenced.
  • Main text – up to 6,000 words (excluding abstract, references, figure/table captions and boxes).
  • Display items – up to 8 (either figures, tables or boxes).
  • References – up to 100.

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Perspective

A Perspective is a review of a topic from a personal viewpoint. They may be more forward-looking and/or speculative than Reviews and typically have a narrower scope. Despite being opinionated, they should be balanced; they are intended to stimulate discussion and new approaches. Perspectives may not contain primary research data.

Perspectives are approximately 4,000 words long and begin with a 100–150-word unreferenced abstract written for a general audience. Perspectives typically include 2–4 display items (figures, tables or boxes). Footnotes are not used.

Perspectives include received/accepted dates. Perspectives are peer-reviewed to ensure factual accuracy, appropriate citations and scholarly balance; they are edited in consultation with the editorial team.

Format

  • Abstract – up to 150 words, unreferenced.
  • Main text – up to 4,000 words (excluding abstract, references, figure/table captions and boxes). 
  • Display items – up to 5 (either figures, tables or boxes)
  • References – up to 100.

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Comment

A Comment article focuses on the scientific, commercial, ethical, legal, societal, or political issues surrounding research. Comment articles should be topical, provocative and introduce new concepts/points of view, providing a personal perspective on a matter of public or scientific importance. Comments should be written in an accessible, non-technical style. 

Comments may not contain primary research data, although they may present 'sociological' data; for example, funding trends, demographics and bibliographic data.

Comments may be peer reviewed at the editors’ discretion; they are edited by the journal editors in consultation with the authors.

Comment articles are usually commissioned by the editors, but proposals are welcome.

Format

  • Length – up to 1,500 words.
  • Sub-headings are encouraged.
  • References should be used sparingly – up to 15.
  • Article titles are omitted from the reference list.

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Correspondence

The Correspondence section provides a forum for comment on issues relevant to the journal’s community. This format may not be used for presentation of research data or analysis. 

Format

  • Correspondence – between 300–800 words.
  • Display items – 1 item.
  • References – up to 10 references. Article titles are omitted from the reference list. 
  • Correspondence may be peer-reviewed at the editors’ discretion.

Note that Correspondence pieces are not technical comments on peer-reviewed research papers; these should be submitted as Matters Arising.

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Matters Arising

Matters Arising are exceptionally interesting and timely scientific comments and clarifications on original research papers published in Nature Mental Health. These comments should ideally be based on contemporary knowledge rather than subsequent scientific developments.