No Abstract.South African Psychiatry Review Vol. 10 (2) 2007: pp.53-5

Szabo, CP

English

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South African Psychiatry Review • May 2007 53The publication of the May 2007 edition of South AfricanPsychiatry Review marks the end of an era, for the Journal,which has seen the further development of research capacity,and enthusiasm, within the fraternity of psychiatry and relateddisciplines in South Africa. The end of an era because this isthe last edition of the Journal. The reality is that where onething ends, another begins. Before giving you a view of thefuture, it is incumbent on me to acknowledge all of you as theJournal’s most valuable asset, our readership, for having beenpart of a rather special voyage over these past years. Inaddition it is vital to acknowledge the critical role that thepharmaceutical industry has played during this time. Presentthrough advertising alone and with no suggestion ofinvolvement, or attempt to be involved, beyond that theJournal’s relationship with industry has demonstrated thatmutually beneficial, non-exploitative partnerships are not pipedreams but a very real phenomenon. The Journal started life as the Journal of Depression andAnxiety and was edited by Michael Berk. In the years thatfollowed the publication was revamped, moving from a veryfocused product to something much broader with the aim ofproviding a forum for both young and more establishedresearchers in psychiatry in South Africa. Thus in 2002, SouthAfrican Psychiatry Review was born. With time, andexperience, the possibilities became apparent. The nextimportant step was the accreditation by the Department ofEducation and subsequent indexing in both PsycINFO andEmbase as well as African Journals Online. This together withan electronic footprint in the form of the Journal’s website setthe scene for what followed, which not least of all was thepositioning of the Journal as African. As a result the editorialboard grew from predominantly South African academics toinclude important names from Africa in addition to those fromaround the globe which gave the Journal an internationalflavour. Most recently, at the Regional World PsychiatricAssociation (WPA) conference held in Nairobi – Kenya - inMarch 2007, a landmark decision was taken. South AfricanPsychiatry Review is to become the official journal of theAfrican Association of Psychiatrists and Allied Professionals(AAPAP). As of the August 2007 edition the Journal willhenceforth be known as the African Journal of Psychiatry. Aspart of this development the African Journal of Psychiatry willpartner with International Psychiatry, a publication of the RoyalCollege of Psychiatrists (UK). The process of negotiating thisdevelopment has been most satisfying, not least of all becauseit has led to a publication that will represent a medicaldiscipline (and allied disciplines) across a continent. Thehope is that the African Journal of Psychiatry will make asignificant contribution to the indigenous knowledge base ofPsychiatry in Africa and continue the work of South AfricanPsychiatry Review. There remains much to be done logistically, but these aredetails. Importantly, the current distribution arrangementswithin South Africa will not change with the frequency ofpublication remaining quarterly. Further, all papers acceptedfor publication to date will appear in the African Journal ofPsychiatry, likewise those currently under review if acceptedfor publication. New submissions are, as always, mostwelcome. A number of colleagues deserve special mention: FrankNjenga (as President of the AAPAP), Robin Emsley and OyeGureje (who negotiated on behalf of the AAPAP), Peter Tyrer(editor of the British Journal of Psychiatry)1 as well as SollyRataemane and David Ndetei (whose support andencouragement were most enabling), not forgetting Werdievan Staden (editor of the South African Journal of Psychiatry).Last but not least a special word of acknowledgement to MikeEwart Smith (an honest critic and loyal friend over the lifespanof South African Psychiatry Review) as well as Andrew Thomas(Inhouse publications) who has been a constant supporter ofthe vision. Finally to all who have contributed, and reviewed,articles, it has been a real pleasure working with you. It is my hope that these developments will serve as furtherincentive to both conduct research and submit manuscripts. Incase you’re wondering, I will be the Editor-in Chief of theAfrican Journal of Psychiatry. I look forward to seeing you inAugust 2007. Christopher P. SzaboEditor-in-ChiefReference1. Tyrer P. A new African psychiatric journal. British Journal ofPsychiatry 2007; 190: 456. doi:10.1192/bjp.190.5.456 EDITORIAL S Afr Psychiatry Rev 2007;10:53The end of an era

The end of an era

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The end of an era

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