- Aims and Scope
- Open access · CC BY 4.0
Aims and Scope
The Journal of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy publishes research on cognitive behavioral therapy, including clinical trials, mechanisms of change, measurement and implementation.
What the journal is for
- To publish rigorous research on the development, evaluation, delivery and mechanisms of cognitive and behavioral interventions for mental health, health, disability and education.
- To bring together clinical trials, process and mechanism studies, measurement research and implementation science, so that findings about how therapy works inform how it is delivered and measured.
- To make that research freely available, with clear methods and transparent peer review practices.
Where the cognitive model is tested
JCBT considers research on cognitive behavioral therapy. The journal welcomes work on the clinical trials, mechanisms of change, measurement and implementation of cognitive and behavioral interventions, including the research areas below. The areas are illustrative, not exhaustive, and a topic not named here is considered on its merits. Manuscripts should show a clear connection to cognitive or behavioral intervention.
- CONTEXT
Context and delivery
Settings, populations and formats: individual, group, school, digital and blended care.
- COGNITION
Cognitive mechanisms
Cognitive restructuring, attention, memory, bias and the processes through which interventions work.
- EMOTION
Emotion and outcomes
Anxiety, depression, trauma, stress and wellbeing outcomes in clinical and community samples.
- BEHAVIOR
Behavioral change
Behavioral activation, exposure, habit formation and relapse prevention.
- TRIALS / MEASURES
Trials and measurement
Clinical trials, systematic reviews, psychometrics and implementation science.
Examples of topics
- Clinical trials of cognitive behavioral interventions
- Mechanisms of change and mediators of treatment effect
- Cognitive restructuring, attention and memory processes
- Behavioral activation, exposure and relapse prevention
- Anxiety, depression, trauma and stress-related conditions
- Measurement, psychometrics and outcome assessment
- Digital, group, school and blended delivery
- Implementation, training and fidelity in routine care
- Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of psychological interventions
Contributions from clinical, counseling, health, educational and behavioral sciences and from statistics and computational methods are welcome when they address a question about cognitive behavioral therapy.
What the journal publishes
Requirements for each type are set out in the Instructions for Authors.
- Original Research
- Empirical studies of cognitive behavioral interventions and their mechanisms, using quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods.
- Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Systematic syntheses of evidence on a defined question, with or without meta-analysis.
- Methods
- New, adapted or validated measures, methods, models and study protocols.
- Clinical Trial Report
- Reports of randomized and non-randomized trials of cognitive behavioral interventions.
- Short Communication
- Concise reports of a focused or preliminary finding.
- Case Report
- Individual cases or short case series with a clear lesson for the delivery or understanding of cognitive behavioral therapy.
- Commentary
- Reasoned, evidence-based arguments on a current question in the field or on published research.
Where a manuscript sits between types, authors choose the closest type and explain the choice in the cover letter. A short case series is classified as a Case Report.
How manuscripts are assessed
Manuscripts are assessed for their relevance to cognitive behavioral therapy, the soundness of their methods, the quality of reporting and whether their conclusions are proportionate to the evidence. Trials, mechanism studies, measurement studies and implementation studies are assessed on the same criteria.
Single-blind by default; double-blind review is available on request.
If you are unsure whether a topic fits, send the title and abstract to the editorial office at info@openaccesspub.org before submitting.
Submit a manuscript to JCBT
Please read the Instructions for Authors and the Editorial Policies before submitting. The article processing charge of USD 1,200 is payable only after acceptance; withdrawal after submission is subject to the journal's withdrawal policy.