Aims and Scope
The International Journal of Psychotherapy Practice and Research (IJPR) publishes rigorous empirical research examining the mechanisms, efficacy, and implementation of psychotherapeutic interventions for mental health disorders, with emphasis on evidence-based practice, treatment outcomes, and clinical innovation.
Core Research Domains
Psychotherapy Efficacy & Outcomes
Empirical studies evaluating the effectiveness of psychotherapeutic interventions across diverse populations and settings.
- Randomized controlled trials of psychotherapy interventions
- Comparative effectiveness research across therapeutic modalities
- Long-term treatment outcomes and relapse prevention
- Dose-response relationships in psychotherapy
- Moderators and mediators of treatment effects
- Cost-effectiveness analyses of psychotherapeutic interventions
A randomized controlled trial comparing cognitive behavioral therapy versus interpersonal therapy for major depressive disorder, with 12-month follow-up data on symptom remission and functional outcomes.
Clinical Psychology & Mental Health Disorders
Research on the assessment, diagnosis, and psychotherapeutic treatment of mental health conditions.
- Anxiety disorders (GAD, panic disorder, social anxiety, phobias)
- Mood disorders (depression, bipolar disorder)
- Trauma and stress-related disorders (PTSD, acute stress)
- Personality disorders and treatment approaches
- Eating disorders and body image interventions
- Substance use disorders and behavioral addictions
An empirical study examining the efficacy of exposure-based therapy for social anxiety disorder in adolescents, including standardized outcome measures and treatment adherence data.
Therapeutic Modalities & Techniques
Investigation of specific psychotherapeutic approaches, their mechanisms of action, and clinical applications.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and its variants
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) for emotion regulation
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
- Mindfulness-based interventions (MBCT, MBSR)
- Psychodynamic and interpersonal therapies
- Integrative and transdiagnostic approaches
A process-outcome study investigating the role of cognitive restructuring techniques in CBT for generalized anxiety disorder, with session-by-session symptom tracking and mechanism analysis.
Specialized Populations & Contexts
Psychotherapy research addressing the unique needs of specific demographic groups and treatment settings.
- Child and adolescent psychotherapy
- Geriatric mental health interventions
- Couple and family therapy outcomes
- Group therapy processes and effectiveness
- Cultural adaptations of evidence-based treatments
- Teletherapy and digital mental health interventions
A controlled study evaluating culturally adapted cognitive behavioral therapy for depression in Latino immigrant populations, with attention to cultural values and treatment engagement.
Secondary Focus Areas
Assessment & Measurement
- Psychometric validation of clinical assessment tools
- Treatment outcome measurement instruments
- Diagnostic assessment methods
- Progress monitoring and feedback systems
- Therapeutic alliance measurement
Training & Competence
- Therapist training and supervision methods
- Competence assessment in psychotherapy delivery
- Treatment fidelity and adherence monitoring
- Continuing education effectiveness
- Clinical supervision models and outcomes
Implementation Science
- Dissemination of evidence-based treatments
- Barriers and facilitators to treatment adoption
- Quality improvement in mental health services
- Stepped care and collaborative care models
- Treatment accessibility and engagement strategies
Mechanisms of Change
- Therapeutic processes and active ingredients
- Common factors across psychotherapies
- Client factors predicting treatment response
- Neurobiological correlates of psychotherapy
- Mediation and moderation analyses
Emerging Research Areas
Out of Scope
Explicit Exclusions
The following topics fall outside the journal's scope and will be desk-rejected without review:
- Basic Neuroscience Without Clinical Application Purely neurobiological studies, molecular mechanisms, or animal models without direct relevance to psychotherapeutic practice.
- Pharmacological Interventions as Primary Focus Studies examining medication effects without psychotherapy components, drug trials, or psychopharmacology research.
- Purely Theoretical or Philosophical Papers Conceptual frameworks, theoretical models, or philosophical discussions without empirical data or systematic evidence synthesis.
- Non-Clinical Populations Without Mental Health Focus Studies of healthy individuals, workplace wellness, or general self-improvement without clinical mental health outcomes.
- Single Case Reports Without Systematic Methodology Individual case descriptions lacking rigorous single-case experimental design or systematic outcome measurement.
Article Types & Editorial Priorities
Expedited Review
- Original Research Articles
- Randomized Controlled Trials
- Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
- Methodological Innovations
- Replication Studies
Regular Review
- Short Communications
- Clinical Practice Reports
- Data Notes
- Perspectives & Commentaries
- Treatment Development Studies
Rarely Considered
- Single Case Studies (must use rigorous design)
- Opinion Pieces (by invitation only)
- Book Reviews
- Letters to the Editor
Editorial Standards & Requirements
Reporting Guidelines
All submissions must adhere to appropriate reporting standards:
- CONSORT for randomized controlled trials
- STROBE for observational studies
- PRISMA for systematic reviews and meta-analyses
- CARE for case reports (when applicable)
- SRQR for qualitative research
- TREND for non-randomized intervention studies
Research Ethics
Mandatory ethical compliance requirements:
- IRB/Ethics committee approval documentation
- Informed consent procedures clearly described
- Clinical trial registration (for intervention studies)
- Conflict of interest disclosure
- Data availability statement
- Patient confidentiality protection
Data & Transparency
Open science practices strongly encouraged:
- Data sharing in public repositories (when feasible)
- Pre-registration of study protocols
- Analysis code availability
- Materials and measures openly accessible
- Transparent reporting of all outcomes
Preprint Policy
Preprint posting is permitted and encouraged:
- Authors may post preprints before submission
- Preprints do not affect consideration
- Must disclose preprint DOI at submission
- Final published version supersedes preprint
- Preprint servers: PsyArXiv, medRxiv, OSF Preprints
Decision Metrics & Timeline
Editorial Performance Indicators
Ready to Submit?
If your research aligns with our scope and meets our methodological standards, we invite you to submit your manuscript for consideration.
Submit Your Manuscript
