Author Guidelines

Neuropsychiatry Case Reports is a specialized scientific journal dedicated to the publication of clinically significant, unusual, rare, and challenging cases in neuropsychiatry. The journal provides a platform for clinicians and researchers to share distinctive clinical experiences that contribute to the understanding, diagnosis, and management of complex neuropsychiatric disorders.

The journal particularly welcomes cases involving advanced and emerging therapeutic approaches, unusual clinical presentations, rare neuropsychiatric conditions, treatment-resistant disorders, diagnostic challenges, and innovative clinical interventions. By highlighting cases that offer meaningful clinical lessons or introduce novel perspectives, the journal aims to contribute to the advancement of contemporary neuropsychiatric practice.

 

Primary Aim

To disseminate high-quality case reports that provide clinically relevant and educational insights, contributing directly to the advancement of contemporary neuropsychiatric practice.

Scope

Neuropsychiatry Case Reports welcomes reports addressing, but not limited to, the following topics:

• Rare and exceptionally uncommon neuropsychiatric disorders

• Unusual, atypical, or unexpected clinical presentations

• Complex and diagnostically challenging cases

• Treatment-resistant or refractory neuropsychiatric conditions

• Advanced, innovative, and emerging treatment approaches

• Novel pharmacological, biological, neuromodulatory, and interventional therapies

• Unexpected therapeutic responses or adverse treatment outcomes

• Complex comorbid neurological and psychiatric conditions

• Neuropsychiatric manifestations of neurological, systemic, genetic, metabolic, infectious, autoimmune, or other medical disorders

• Unusual behavioral, cognitive, affective, or psychotic syndromes

• Cases providing new insights into disease mechanisms or clinical phenotypes

• Clinically important diagnostic dilemmas and differential diagnostic challenges

• Innovative multidisciplinary approaches to complex neuropsychiatric cases

• Cases with significant implications for clinical practice or future research

Priority & Value Criteria

The journal particularly values case reports that go beyond routine clinical descriptions and provide novel, unexpected, or practice-changing observations. Cases may be considered especially relevant when they document:

• A rare condition

• An unusual phenotype

• A difficult diagnostic process

• An exceptional treatment response

• Failure of conventional therapy

• The successful application of an advanced or emerging therapeutic strategy

Target Audience

The journal addresses psychiatrists, neurologists, neuroscientists, psychologists, clinical researchers, and all healthcare professionals involved in the care and study of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Neuropsychiatry Case Reports serves as a focused forum for clinicians and researchers who encounter exceptional and informative cases at the intersection of brain, behavior, and mental health.

1. TYPES OF MANUSCRIPTS

Neuropsychiatry Case Reports considers the following types of manuscripts:

Clinical Case Reports
Detailed descriptions of one or more clinically significant cases that provide valuable educational insights, highlight unusual presentations, document rare conditions, or demonstrate innovative therapeutic approaches in neuropsychiatry.

Case Series
Systematic descriptions of multiple cases sharing a common clinical feature, diagnosis, treatment approach, or outcome, offering broader insights into disease patterns or therapeutic responses.

Clinical Grand Rounds
Comprehensive case presentations that include diagnostic dilemmas, multidisciplinary discussions, differential diagnosis, and clinical decision-making processes, often accompanied by expert commentary.

Therapeutic Case Reports
Cases focusing on innovative, emerging, or advanced therapeutic interventions, including novel pharmacological agents, biological therapies, neuromodulatory techniques, or multidisciplinary treatment strategies.

Diagnostic Challenge Reports
Cases that highlight complex diagnostic processes, unusual differential diagnostic considerations, or the use of advanced diagnostic tools in neuropsychiatry.

Clinical Imaging & Brief Reports
Short communications focusing on neuroimaging, EEG, biomarkers, or other diagnostic findings that contribute to clinical understanding.

Letters to the Editor
Concise scholarly communications addressing recently published cases, methodological considerations in case reporting, or topics of significant interest to the journal's readership.

Commentaries
Scholarly perspectives on emerging issues, significant developments, or controversial topics in neuropsychiatric clinical practice and case reporting.

Review Articles (by invitation only)
Comprehensive evaluations of case-based literature in neuropsychiatry, synthesizing existing knowledge and identifying future research directions.

2. PREPARATION OF ARTICLES

Authors are strongly encouraged to carefully follow the guidelines outlined in this document. Adherence to these guidelines will enhance the clarity, coherence, and clinical utility of submissions and is essential for maintaining the standards of the journal.

Mandatory Article Template

All articles submitted to this journal must be prepared using the template provided below. Articles not using this template will not be accepted for the review stage. Please also use this template file when uploading your manuscript to the online submission system.

DOWNLOAD NEUROPSYCHIATRY CASE REPORTS ARTICLE TEMPLATE

Important Notes

Mandatory Template: All manuscripts must be prepared according to the official template provided.

All Sections: The title, author information, abstract, keywords, headings, text, references, and all other sections must strictly adhere to the rules and formatting (font, point size, style, alignment, etc.) specified in the template.

Submission Process: You must upload your manuscript to the online submission system formatted according to the required template.

Case reports should be comprehensive, fully documented accounts of clinically significant observations. They should be concise but complete, including all relevant clinical details. Authors are encouraged to utilize supplementary materials (including images, video, neuroimaging data, or detailed assessment instruments) to enhance the educational value of their reports.

Manuscripts should be divided into the following sections: Title page, Abstract, Introduction, Case Presentation, Diagnostic Assessment and Differential Diagnosis, Therapeutic Intervention and Clinical Course, Discussion, Conclusion, Acknowledgments, References.

3. ARTICLE SECTIONS

Article Title

The title should clearly and concisely reflect the clinical content and significance of the case. Titles are very important for clinical awareness and information retrieval and should therefore be carefully constructed for these purposes. Consider including key clinical features, diagnosis, or therapeutic approach in the title when appropriate.

Names and Addresses

For multiple-authored articles, list the names and affiliations of all the authors, the email address(es), and the full postal addresses, using identifiers to link an author with an address where necessary. All authors must provide their ORCID iD.

Abstract

Case reports have an abstract, separate from the text, that should not contain any references, numbers, abbreviations, or acronyms unless absolutely necessary.

The abstract should be structured with the following subheadings: Background, Case Presentation, Conclusion.

The abstract should give readers concise information about the clinical significance and educational value of the case. When preparing their abstracts, authors should keep in mind that this summary is aimed at a multidisciplinary audience including clinicians and researchers across neuroscience, psychiatry, and neurology. The abstract is the most important section of the paper since it will be widely and freely disseminated by scientific indexing systems and will be read far more often than the whole paper.

Keywords

All authors are required to provide keywords characterizing the clinical topic of their case. Immediately after the abstract, provide keywords using American spelling and avoiding general and plural terms and multiple concepts (avoid, for example, 'and', 'of'). Be sparing with abbreviations: only abbreviations firmly established in the field may be eligible. These keywords will be used for indexing purposes.

Introduction

The introduction should include a statement explaining the clinical motivation for the case report and should accurately place the case in context with previous literature. Clearly state the clinical problem, the uniqueness or importance of the case, and its potential contribution to neuropsychiatric practice.

Case Presentation

This section provides a clear, detailed, and chronological description of the patient's history, including demographic information (while maintaining anonymity), presenting complaints, history of presenting illness, past psychiatric and medical history, family history, social history, and medication history. Include relevant physical, neurological, and mental state examination findings.

Diagnostic Assessment and Differential Diagnosis

Describe all diagnostic investigations performed, including neuroimaging, laboratory tests, neuropsychological assessments, and psychiatric evaluations. Provide a clear account of the differential diagnostic process, including how competing diagnoses were considered and excluded. Document the final diagnosis with reference to established diagnostic criteria (e.g., DSM, ICD) where applicable.

Therapeutic Intervention and Clinical Course

Present a detailed description of all therapeutic interventions, including pharmacological treatments (with dosages, routes, duration, and monitoring), psychological therapies, neuromodulatory interventions, or other treatment modalities. Document the clinical course, including response to treatment, adverse effects, complications, and changes in clinical status over time.

Discussion

Interpret the case in light of existing literature. Discuss the clinical significance, uniqueness, and educational value of the case. Address diagnostic challenges, therapeutic considerations, and implications for clinical practice. Compare and contrast the case with previously reported cases. Discuss limitations and lessons learned.

Conclusion and Outlook

This last section should succinctly summarize the key clinical lessons from the case, present possible implications for clinical practice, suggest directions for future research, and reflect on the broader significance for the field of neuropsychiatry.

Acknowledgments

All contributors who do not meet the criteria for authorship should be listed in the Acknowledgments section.

Funding

All sources of funding must be disclosed at the end of the main text under a separate heading Funding.

4. REFERENCES – AUTHOR-DATE STYLE

Neuropsychiatry Case Reports uses the author-date citation system (similar to APA/Harvard style). This system uses in-text citations consisting of the author's surname and the year of publication in parentheses.

In-Text Citations

Single author: (Smith, 2020)

Two authors: (Smith & Jones, 2020)

Three or more authors: (Smith et al., 2020)

Multiple citations: Order alphabetically and separate with semicolons: (Brown, 2019; Smith & Jones, 2020; Williams, 2018)

Multiple works by same author in same year: Use letters to distinguish: (Smith, 2020a, 2020b)

Direct quotation: Include page number: (Smith, 2020, p. 45)

Reference List

Order: Alphabetical by the first author's surname.

Format: List only the references that are actually cited in the text. Do not include a separate bibliography.

Authors: List all authors up to 20. For more than 20, list the first 19 followed by "..." and then the last author.

Journal Title: Full journal name (do not abbreviate).

Reference Samples (Author-Date Style)

Journal Article
Smith, J. A., Jones, M. B., & Williams, K. R. (2025). Atypical presentation of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis: Diagnostic challenges and therapeutic outcomes. Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 37(2), 112-125.

Book
Gazzaniga, M. S. (2021). Cognitive neuroscience: The biology of the mind (5th ed.). W. W. Norton & Company.

Book Chapter
Kandel, E. R. (2019). The molecular biology of memory storage. In L. R. Squire (Ed.), Fundamental neuroscience (4th ed., pp. 789-812). Academic Press.

Thesis / Dissertation
Thompson, R. J. (2023). Neuropsychiatric outcomes in autoimmune encephalitis: A longitudinal study [Doctoral dissertation, Harvard University].

Web Source
World Health Organization. (2025). Mental health atlas 2025. https://www.who.int/publications/mental-health-atlas-2025

Preprint
Chen, L., & Park, S. (2024). Cognitive rehabilitation in treatment-resistant depression: A case series. medRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.03.15.24304321

Newspaper Article
Reynolds, E. (2026, February 10). The rise of neuromodulation in psychiatric care. The New York Times, p. D4.

Conference Paper
Martinez, R., & Kim, J. (2025). Novel biomarkers in neuropsychiatric lupus. In Proceedings of the 7th International Congress on Neuropsychiatry (pp. 45-52). ICN Press.

Web References

As a minimum, the full URL should be given and the date when the reference was last accessed. Any further information, if known (DOI, author names, dates, reference to a source publication, etc.) should also be given.

5. MATHEMATICS, SYMBOLS, AND TABLES

Mathematics and Symbols

If your article contains superscripts or subscripts, take special care to ensure that the positioning of the characters is unambiguous. If special symbols are needed (e.g., Greek characters, accented characters, or mathematical symbols), these should be typed using the appropriate TrueType font. Equations must be prepared using Equation Editor or MathType.

Tables

Tables must be editable (do not embed them as images).

Number tables consecutively in the order they are cited in the text (Table 1, Table 2, etc.).

Provide a concise, descriptive title above each table.

Use horizontal lines only; avoid vertical lines or complex borders.

Include clear column headings and, if necessary, footnotes to explain abbreviations or statistical notations.

Figures

Figures include charts, graphs, maps, photographs, and diagrams. In clinical case reporting, illustrative materials should be included only when they are strictly necessary for clarifying the discussion.

Submit figures as high-resolution files: minimum 300 dpi for photographs and 600 dpi for line art.

Acceptable file formats: .jpeg, .tiff, .eps, or .pdf.

Number figures consecutively (Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.).

Provide a brief but clear caption below each figure.

If reproducing copyrighted material, authors are responsible for obtaining written permission from the copyright holder.

6. PROOFS

Proofs of articles are usually sent to you for correction by e-mail as an annotated Microsoft Word *.doc or *.docx file attachment. When checking your proofs, you should take particular care checking mathematics, tables, and references. Only essential corrections should be made.

7. SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR MANUSCRIPT TYPES

Clinical Case Reports
This is the main section of the journal. Detailed descriptions of one or more cases with clinical significance, unusual presentations, rare conditions, or innovative therapeutic approaches. Cases should be comprehensive, well-documented, and provide clear educational value.

Case Series
Systematic descriptions of multiple cases (typically 3 or more) sharing a common feature. Should include clear inclusion criteria, demographic data, and outcome measures. Provide statistical analysis where appropriate.

Clinical Grand Rounds
Comprehensive case presentations that include diagnostic dilemmas, multidisciplinary discussions, differential diagnosis, and clinical decision-making processes. May include expert commentary from multiple specialties.

Therapeutic Case Reports
Cases focusing on innovative, emerging, or advanced therapeutic interventions. Provide detailed treatment protocols, monitoring data, and outcome assessments. Discuss the rationale for the chosen approach.

Diagnostic Challenge Reports
Cases that highlight complex diagnostic processes, unusual differential diagnostic considerations, or the use of advanced diagnostic tools. Emphasize the diagnostic reasoning process.

Clinical Imaging & Brief Reports
Short communications focusing on neuroimaging, EEG, biomarkers, or other diagnostic findings. Should include relevant clinical context and interpretation of findings.

Letters to the Editor
Concise scholarly communications (500-1000 words) addressing recently published cases, methodological considerations, or topics of significant interest. Should include up to 5 references.

Commentaries
Scholarly perspectives (1000-2000 words) on emerging issues, significant developments, or controversial topics in neuropsychiatric clinical practice. May be invited or unsolicited.

Review Articles (by invitation only)
Comprehensive evaluations of case-based literature in neuropsychiatry. Should be systematic, critical, and identify gaps in knowledge. Typically 4000-8000 words.

8. REFEREEING PROCESS

Neuropsychiatry Case Reports employs a double-anonymized peer review process. All contributions that are selected for peer review are sent to at least two independent reviewers with expertise in neuropsychiatry and related clinical fields.

Anonymization Requirements

• Do NOT include the author's name, affiliation, or acknowledgment section in the main manuscript file.

• Remove author-identifying information from the document properties (File > Info > Check for Issues > Inspect Document).

• Self-citations: Cite your own previous work in the third person and without revealing authorship (e.g., "As previously demonstrated (Smith, 2020)").

Review Criteria

Manuscripts are evaluated based on:

• Clinical significance and relevance

• Educational value and uniqueness

• Methodological rigor and completeness

• Quality of documentation and presentation

• Contribution to the field of neuropsychiatry

9. ARTICLE PROCESSING CHARGES (APC)

Neuropsychiatry Case Reports charges Article Processing Charges (APC) but does not charge submission fees. This policy benefits authors, as payments are only required once a manuscript has been accepted for publication. Book reviews, commentaries, and invited articles are fully exempt from APCs. In addition, APCs are not charged for articles authored by members of the editorial board. To support the costs of maintaining the publication infrastructure, managing the journal, and overseeing the peer-review and editorial processes, an APC is charged upon acceptance of a manuscript. For the most current APC rates and waivers, please visit our website or contact the editorial office.

10. SUBMISSION AND PUBLICATION WORKFLOW

Prepare your paper for submission
Please use the article template when preparing your article. Also use it during online submission. The preparation of your article in the form of these formal rules is important for editorial first look/opinion and referee evaluation.

Submit and revise
You can submit to Neuropsychiatry Case Reports using our online systems.

Track your submitted paper
You can track the status of your submitted paper online. The system you use to track your submission will be the same system to which you submitted.

Track your accepted paper
Once your paper is accepted for publication, you will receive an email and a direct link that lets you follow its publication status.

Share and promote
Now that your article is published, you can promote it to achieve a bigger impact for your research.

Neuropsychiatry Case Reports

Dedicated to informative cases at the intersection of brain, behavior, and mental health

Contact Information
For questions regarding submissions, please contact the editorial office:
Email: editor@ankpublisher.com