| | The primary emphasis of the journal will be clinical and to this end, a number of different types of articles will be published. Each
type will be aimed to provide clinically important information needed to keep up to date with the practice of sleep medicine, written
in a way to foster interdisciplinary understanding and make clinical information accessible to all practitioners.
Article Types
Sleep Medicine publishes the following types of articles:
•Original articles dealing with diagnosis, clinical
features, pathophysiology, etiology, treatment (by all relevant modalities, including pharmacological, instrumental, surgical, behavioral,
nutritional), genetics, epidemiology, natural history and prognosis of human sleep disorders will be considered for publication, provided
these have not been previously published except in abstract form or have not been submitted simultaneously elsewhere. Reports may also
include technical aspects of sleep medicine, which are relevant for diagnosis, pathophysiology, etiology, treatment and natural history.
Basic research articles will also be published where they have a direct impact on or shed considerable light on clinical aspects of sleep.
Submission of original articles based on animal or human experimental studies are encouraged, and these articles should include a comment
in the abstract and discussion about the potential clinical relevance of the study.
•Review articles on all aspects of
clinical sleep medicine and related basic science that contribute to understanding clinical sleep medicine will be published. Reviews
will be timely, emphasize areas undergoing new development, and include both state of the art reviews and multi-author discussion of
controversial areas.
•Controversies in sleep medicine covering dissenting views (pros and cons) will be published periodically.
•Editorials on manuscripts published elsewhere in the journal or on a timely and controversial topic will be published occasionally.
Editorials may contain up to 1000 words and 20 references.
•Preliminary or limited results of investigations will be published
as brief communications (up to 1500 words containing 20 or fewer references, one table and one figure).
•Well studied
and well written case reports will be published (no structured abstract, up to 1000 words with 10 or fewer references,
one table or a figure). These cases should illuminate important clinical issues, etiology or pathogenesis of a disease or report a new
disease, and unusual but critical aspects of sleep medicine that should be known by all practitioners.
•Letters to the Editor
addressing articles appearing in the journal or on other current topics will be published (up to 300 words and five references).
The journal will publish special issues or supplements dealing with proceedings of meetings, workshops or special topics.
•Medical Hypothesis providing an opportunity to address testable hypotheses in sleep medicine based on solid scientific foundation
will be considered for publication.
•Historical Issues in Sleep Medicine submissions dealing with sleep-related historical
figures, whether leaders from the past or characters from literature or mythology, will be considered for publication.
•Book
reviews are also published. Upon reception of a book from the publisher, it is sent to the book review editor.
•Images
in Sleep Medicine submissions should derive from a specific sleep-related clinical situation. Each submission must consist
of high-resolution images (e.g. polysomnographic tracing, actigraphic recording, neuroimaging, etc.) and should be accompanied by a very
brief clinical impression, significance of the findings and figure legend. Readers will be encouraged to foster discussion of any controversial
images. Submissions may contain up to 500 words and five references, and content must be organized by the following headings: 1. Introduction
to the case, 2. Image analysis, 3. Discussion, and 4. References. Submissions not adhering to these guidelines may be rejected without
further consideration.
•Clinical Corners will deal with complex and unusual cases of sleep disorders and seek comments
from readers about these cases. We invite potential authors to submit interesting clinical material to this section.
•Special
Sections, which focus on such topics as education, guidelines, etc., are published intermittently.
•Video-Clinical Corners
will deal with interesting and challenging clinical cases and significant original phenomena. Every video submission must consist of
high-resolution images and a consent form for publication for educational purposes signed by the patient see form,
please see the Patient Details section below. The Editors reserve the right to ask for additional video/s or video modifications.
Submissions may contain up to 750 words, 10 references and 2 figures, and content must be organized as follows: 1) Introduction
of the case stating the purpose and unusual and interesting aspects of the video; 2) Case description including chief complaint,
past and present medications and history and physical findings; 3) Video analysis of data including representative examples from
the patient's polysomnogram; 4) Brief discussion of the differential diagnosis and therapeutic challenge.
For tips on preparing
your video for submission, see here
•Sleep medicine
also intermittently publishes articles in WebWatch, a section which highlights Internet sources containing information on sleep
medicine.
•Also published in the journal are News and Announcements and an International Calendar pertaining to
events in sleep medicine.
Patient Details
Studies on patients or volunteers require ethics committee approval and informed
consent, which should be documented in your paper.
If you wish to include images of patients or case details in an Elsevier publication,
you will need to adhere to the following requirements:
In order to comply with data protection and privacy rules, each individual
who appears in any video, recording, photograph or case report must be made aware in advance of the fact that such photographs are being
taken or such video, recording or report is being made and of all of the purposes for which you wish to use them and that individual
(or next of kin in the case of children) must give his/her explicit written consent. If such consent is made subject to any conditions
(for example, adopting measures to prevent personal identification of the person concerned), Elsevier must be made aware of all such
conditions. Written consents must be provided to Elsevier on request.
The author is responsible for obtaining all necessary consents
from patients for (i) the performance of any medical procedure involved, as well as (ii) a release permitting our use of the relevant
material. It is our insurers' preference that we do not have any direct contractual relationship with the patients themselves. Please
download the Patient consent form here.
Fast
Track Publication
Articles for 'fast track publication' can be submitted provided they fulfil the criteria of containing new
and important scientific information. Articles for 'fast track publication' if accepted will be published within 8 weeks from the received
date at Elsevier. Such manuscripts should not exceed 2000 words, 20 references and 3 illustrations or tables. The Editors reserve the
right for final decision whether a manuscript submitted for fast track publication will be so processed or be submitted through the routine
review process.
The journal is published bi-monthly and all manuscripts are peer-reviewed except proceedings of scientific meetings.
Electronic submission via the Web using EES
The preferred medium of submission to the accepting Editor is online with
the accompanying manuscript, illustrations, tables and annexes. Submission of a paper to Sleep Medicine is understood to imply
that it has not previously been published (except in abstract form) and that it is not being published elsewhere. Submitted manuscripts
should be accompanied by a statement undersigned by all listed authors that they concur with the submission and that the manuscript has
been approved by the responsible authorities where the work was carried out. If accepted, the manuscript shall not be published elsewhere
in the same form in either the same or any other language, without the consent of the Editor and Publisher. The decision of the Editor
is final. The Editor cannot enter into correspondence about a paper considered unsuitable for publication.
Sleep Medicine
uses an online, electronic submission system called EES (Elsevier Editorial System). By accessing the following website http://ees.elsevier.com/sleep
You will be guided stepwise through the creation and uploading of the various files. When submitting a manuscript to EES, authors
need to provide an electronic version of their manuscript. The author should select a set of classifications from a list, a category
designation for their manuscript (original article, review, controversies, letter to the editor, brief communication, etc.) and may provide
keywords and comments to the Editor separately. Details of two reviewers may be suggested with a submission and can be provided in the
comments box or at a later stage when uploading the files for submission.
Authors may send queries concerning the submission process,
manuscript status, or journal procedures to the Editorial Office (sleep@elsevier.com). Once the uploading is done, the system automatically
generates an electronic (PDF) proof, which is then used for reviewing. All correspondence, including the Editor's decision and request
for revisions, will be by e-mail.
Funding body agreements and policies
Elsevier has established agreements and developed
policies to allow authors whose articles appear in journals published by Elsevier, to comply with potential manuscript archiving requirements
as specified as conditions of their grant awards. To learn more about existing agreements and policies please visit http://www.elsevier.com/fundingbodies
Manuscript Preparation
Use double spacing throughout, including the reference section. Manuscripts should be organized
as follows: Title page, Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, References, Legends, and Tables and Figures.
Title
Page
Authors' full names, academic or professional affiliations, and complete addresses must be included on the title page. The
corresponding author must be indicated by an asterisk, and his/her full contact details must be included (telephone and fax numbers and
e-mail address).
Abstract
A structured abstract of approximately 200 words is mandatory at the beginning of each article. The
abstract should be organized by: Objective or Background, Methods, Results, and Conclusions. Review articles and case reports
do not need a structured abstract.
Keywords
6-8 items must be included on the title page. Authors are encouraged to choose
their own key words, but Medical Subject Headings (issued with the January Index Medicus, latest edition) may be used as a guideline.
References
References to literature must be indicated by Arabic numerals which run consecutively through the paper. Where
a reference is cited more than once in the text the same number should be used each time. Reference style should follow the "Vancouver"
style described in the "Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals" (published in N Engl J Med 1997;336:309-315).
The titles of journals should be abbreviated in conformity with Index Medicus. The following are sample styles:
[1] Bondi M, Kaszniak
A. Implicit and explicit memory in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 1991;13:339-358.
[2] Wechsler
D. Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. New York: Grune & Stratton, 1976.
[3] Hirst W, Volpe B. Automatic and effortful encoding
in amnesia. In: Gazzaniga M, editor.
Handbook of cognitive neuroscience. New York: Plenum Press, 1984; p. 369-386.
Please ensure
that references are complete, i.e. that they include, where relevant, the author's name, article or book title, volume and issue number,
publisher and publisher's location, and page reference.
This journal should be abbreviated as Sleep Med.
Figure and Table
Legends
Legends should be typed double spaced on a separate page and numbered with Arabic numerals corresponding to the illustrations.
When symbols, arrows, numbers or letters are used to identify parts of the illustrations, each should be explained clearly in the legend.
The legends should permit the figures to be understood with reference to the text. If the figure has been published previously a credit
line should be included.
Figures
Figures of good quality should be submitted online as a separate file. Letters, numbers
and symbols should be clear throughout and should be large to permit photographic reduction.
Be sure that all spelling is correct,
that there are no broken letters or uneven type, and that abbreviations used are consistent with those in the text. Use a label on the
back of each figure to indicate the article's running title and the top of the figure. Do not write directly on the back of photographs.
Do not trim, mount, clip or staple the illustrations. Submit photomicrographs in the final desired size. The colour transparency or negative
should be supplied, in addition to colour prints.
Photographs of recognizable persons should be accompanied by a signed release from
the patient or legal guardian authorizing publication. Masking eyes to hide identity is not sufficient.
Colour Reproduction
For colour reproduction in print, a limited number of colour figures may be printed in the Journal without cost, at the discretion of
the Editor, who will make the judgement based on the academic necessity of the colour illustrations. Otherwise you will receive information
regarding the costs from Elsevier after receipt of your accepted article. For further information on the preparation of the electronic
artwork, please see http://www.elsevier.com/artworkinstructions
Tables
Tables should be submitted online
as a separate file and should bear a short descriptive title. If a table must exceed one typewritten page, duplicate all headings on
the second sheet. Number tables in the order in which they are cited in the text. Every column in the table should have an abbreviated
heading. Define all abbreviations and indicate the units of measurements for all values. Explain all empty spaces or dashes. Indicate
footnotes to the table with the superscript symbols cited in order as you read the table horizontally.
Preparation of Supplementary
Material (MultiMedia Components)
Elsevier now accepts electronic supplementary material to support and enhance your scientific
research. Supplementary files offer the author additional possibilities to publish supporting applications, movies, animation sequences,
background datasets, sound clips and more.
Supplementary files supplied will be published online alongside the electronic version
of your article in Elsevier web products, including ScienceDirect (http://www.sciencedirect.com). In order to ensure that
your submitted material is directly usable, please ensure that data is provided in one of our recommended file formats. Files can be
stored on diskette, ZIP or Jaz-disk, or CD or DVD (either MS-Windows or Macintosh). Authors should submit the material in electronic
format together with the article and supply a concise and descriptive caption for each file. For more detailed instructions please visit
http://elsevier.com/authors.
Language Editing
We have successfully negotiated with eight language editing
companies to provide language editing services to our authors at competitive rates. American Journal Experts, Asia Science Editing, Diacritech
Language Editing Services, Edanz Editing, International Science Editing, ScienceDocs Editing Services and SPI Publisher.
Services
provide language and copy editing services globally to authors who wish to publish in scientific, technical and medical peer-reviewed
journals and would like assistance either before they submit an article for peer review or before it is accepted for publication.
Use of an English-language editing service listed here is not mandatory, and will not guarantee acceptance or preference for publication
in an Elsevier journal. Please note: Elsevier neither endorses nor takes responsibility for any products, goods or services offered
by outside vendors through our services or advertised on this website.
Please go to: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/authors.authors/languagepolishing
for more information.
Proofs
Proofs will be sent to the first-named author of an article unless an alternative is requested
on the title page of the manuscript. They should be checked carefully and returned to the publisher by airmail within 2 days of receipt.
Only typesetting errors may be corrected: no changes in or additions to the edited original manuscript will be allowed at this stage.
Reprints
Reprints may be ordered by completing and returning to the Publisher the order form sent with the proofs. 25 free
reprints per contribution will be made available.
Queries
Queries about a manuscript after its acceptance, especially those
relating to proofs, publication and reprints, should be directed to: Elsevier Ireland Ltd., Elsevier House, Brookvale Plaza, East Park,
Shannon, Co. Clare, Ireland. Tel. (+353) 61-709-600; Fax: (+353) 61-709-100, specifying Journal title and Editor's code/manuscript number.
Declaration of Helsinki
Articles dealing with human experiments must conform to the principles enumerated in the Helsinki
Declaration of 1975, and must include a statement that informed consent was obtained after full explanation of the procedure.
Conflict
of Interest
Authors must disclose any conflicts of interest when submitting their manuscript. This disclosure requirement includes:
1) research grant of contract support administered through an academic or research institute; 2) personal compensation (as opposed to
institutional salary support) through contract, grants, honoraria, fees, or salary, and whether this is less than or in excess of USD10,000
per year; and 3) personal financial investment, including ownership and equity or other financial holdings, and whether this is less
than or in excess of USD10,000 per year. Failure to reveal this information may cause a published paper to be retracted from publication
in Sleep Medicine.
Phase III Trials
Manuscripts reporting the results of Phase III trials must follow the Consolidated
Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guidelines. For more information on these guidelines, please refer to:
Begg, C, Cho, M. Eastwood,
S, et al. Improving the quality of randomized controlled trials: the CONSORT statement. JAMA 1996; 276:637-639.
Schulz, KF. The quest
for unbiased research: Randomized clinical trials and the CONSORT reporting guidelines. Ann Neurol 1997; 41:569-573.
Informed Consent/Ethics
of Experimentation
Studies on patients or volunteers require ethics committee approval and informed consent which should be documented
in your paper.
Patients have a right to privacy. Therefore identifying information, including patients' images, names, initials,
or hospital numbers, should not be included in videos, recordings, written descriptions, photographs, and pedigrees unless the information
is essential for scientific purposes and you have obtained written informed consent for publication in print and electronic form from
the patient (or parent, guardian or next of kin where applicable). If such consent is made subject to any conditions, Elsevier must
be made aware of all such conditions. Written consents must be provided to Elsevier on request.
Even where consent has been given,
identifying details should be omitted if they are not essential. If identifying characteristics are altered to protect anonymity, such
as in genetic pedigrees, authors should provide assurance that alterations do not distort scientific meaning and editors should so note.
If such consent has not been obtained, personal details of patients included in any part of the paper and in any supplementary materials
(including all illustrations and videos) must be removed before submission.
Purpose and Procedure
Articles submitted
for review should meet the following criteria:
•Studies of prevention or treatment must meet these criteria: random allocation
of participants to comparison groups; follow-up of at least 80% of those entering the investigation; outcome measure of known or probably
clinical importance.
•Studies of prognosis must meet these additional criteria: inception cohort of individuals, all initially
free of the outcome of interest; follow-up of at least 80% of participants until the occurrence of a major study end point or to the
end of the study.
•Studies of causation must meet these additional criteria: clearly identified comparison group for those at
risk for, or having, the outcome of interest (e.g. randomized controlled trial, quasi-randomized controlled trial, nonrandomized controlled
trial, cohort analytic study with case-by-case matching or statistical adjustment to create comparable groups, case-control study); blinding
of observers of outcome to exposure (criterion assumed to be met if outcome is objective, e.g. all-cause mortality, objective test);
blinding of observers of exposure to outcomes for case-control studies OR blinding of subjects to exposure for all to be compared on
the basis of both the outcomes produced (effectiveness) and resources consumed (costs); evidence of effectiveness must be from a study
(or studies) that meets the above-noted criteria for diagnosis, treatment, quality assurance, or a review article; results should be
presented in terms of the incremental or additional costs and outcomes of one intervention over another; where there is uncertainty in
the estimates or imprecision in the measurement, a sensitivity analysis should be done. |
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