A Profile of Regional Psychiatry Publishing: Home and Away

Abstract

Objective: Previous reports have profiled Australian psychiatry publishing in high-ranking international journals over the last two decades. An audit of selected high ranking and regional psychiatric journals was therefore undertaken to obtain a current profile of Australasian publishing. Methods: Journals were selected on the basis of impact factors for the year 2000, with the top five regional, generalist and specialist journals being selected, and with publication numbers over a two-year period (1999–2000) compared with numbers from other major geographical regions. Results: Of the 4573 papers identified in the 15 journals, Australasian authors contributed 269 to the regional journals (with two-thirds in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry), 47 to the generalist journals (with two-thirds in Psychological Medicine) and very few (23) to the specialist journals. Representation in the so-called ‘dominant four’ international journals has increased since the 1986–1989 audit. When analysis was made of the ‘top nine’ international journals, the Australasian representation rate was a low 1.8% and lower than most regions examined. Conclusions: If Australasian psychiatry is to advance its international presence, a greater representation rate in top-ranking international journals should be set as an objective.