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The Thriving of English Edition of Taiwanese Journal of Psychiatry

Up to this year of 2007, the Taiwanese Journal of Psychiatry has been published for 32 years starting 1975 with the issuing of the Bulletin of Chinese Society of Neurology and Psychiatry (1975 ~ 1986) containing scientific papers, then Chinese Psychiatry (1987 ~ 1996) under the sponsorship of Chinese Society of Psychiatry, then Taiwanese Journal of Psychiatry (1997 ~ now) sponsored by the present identify of the Taiwanese Society of Psychiatry. This developmental process of re-naming our Journal reflects two changing themes of psychiatry in Taiwanese: (1) the shifting identify of Taiwanese Psychiatry in an atmosphere of a drastic social-political-cultural changes nowadays in Taiwan; (2) the splitting of neurology and psychiatry in 1970's due to the non-negotiable status of the difference in basic theoretical background of these two disciplines of medical services. The emphasis of the etiological significance of psychological and social-cultural domains of psychopathology contributed mainly to this separation of neurology and psychiatry in 1970's.

In this 21st century, there are two major concerns in psychopathology, i.e. the basis of psychiatry. These emphasized domains of psychopathology are (1) genetic and neurobiological approach and (2) globalization effect on psychopathology. The neuroscientific approach and globalization effect provide a vivid platform of international connections and exchanges of psychopathological knowledge and information. As a consequence, the research and clinical experiences of Taiwanese psychiatry is highly welcome, and appreciated by the colleagues of the world psychiatry.

This is the first reason that the English edition of the Journal is proposed. This English edition of the Journal will facilitate the international circulation of the research results from Taiwan. This will provide a convenient channel for us, the Taiwanese psychiatrists to contribute in the new knowledge and literature of the world psychiatry. The second reason for publishing the English edition of the Journal is for the acknowledgement of the credit of Taiwanese psychiatry researchers. In order to fulfill this goal, the Journal must be listed in the list of reference journals of the world, including the Index Medicus and/or SCI, SSCI systems.

The third reason for proposing of the English edition of TJPsy is to make it to be international substantially. English language is the most popular scientific language in the World, and it is the most often assigned official language of international conferences of psychiatry and/or mental health. The Taiwanese J of Psychiatry is the official journal of the Taiwanese Society of Psychiatry, which is a member of various international organizations of psychiatry and/or mental health. We are obliged to present our research results and information of our society in English for international reference. We, the psychiatrists, are the integrated part of the Taiwanese medical group, and we should join the Taiwanese medical group to contribute enthusiastically in the attempt to join the membership of WHO. The English edition ofthe Journal may make us to be possible to share the timely social obligation as a member of medical group in Taiwan.

The forth reason of publishing the English edition of the Journal is to provide a training platform for all members of the the Society to exercise our English writing as well English speaking habit. This English exercise will, for sure, reinforce the speed of gearing into international circle of psychiatry and mental health. This effort will deepen and broaden the international scope of sharing the psychiatry knowledge and service techniques. Our local and/or native knowledge and service techniques in psychiatry and mental health, including those resulted from Taiwanese social and cultural humanity background, can also be appreciated by the international colleagues.

For these purposes of this English edition ofthe Journal, the journal scheme has also been changed accordingly. In addition to original, overview articles and case reports, the Journal also accept the report of case conference and letter to editor. The nomenclature of diagnosis, classification and psychopathology must follow the updated ICD and DSM systems. It is now ICD-10 and DSM-IV.

In summary, the English edition of the Journal was proposed by the editorial board of the Society in 2006 after serious consideration, and it became effective in 2007. The editorial office of TJPsy only accepts the submission of English manuscript from the 1st January, 2007.

I, as the chief editor of the TJPsy, consider the publication of the English edition of the Journal as a major developmental corner stone of our Society and I encourage all of our society members to support our Journal in this crucial stage of the development of our official journal.

Hai-Gwo Hwu, M.D.
Chief Editor Taiwanese Journal of Psychiatry
And
Chairman and Professor Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine
And
Professor
Department of Psychology, College of Science
Institute of Epidemiology, College of Public Health
National Taiwan University
Key Word
Editorial Committe, Taiwanese Journal of Psychiatry
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