Anna Munks, Managing Editor of BJPsych Advances and BJPsych Open, speaks to us about the importance of peer review for the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych).

How important is peer review to RCPsych and its publications?

We are committed to publishing reliable research of the highest quality across the BJPsych portfolio. Following initial screening, all suitable articles submitted to our journals are single-blind peer reviewed by independent, anonymous expert referees. Our peer reviewers are incredibly hard-working and their reviews are vital for the success of our journals.

Can you tell us about your New Reviewer Programme?

In recent years we have seen a significant rise in submissions and needed to find ways to enhance our existing panel of peer reviewers. We concluded that the best way to achieve this would be to establish a training programme, aiming to create an easily searchable panel of enthusiastic, diverse and reliable reviewers. We set up a working group to look at all the options and launched a pilot programme last year.

During the pilot, participants (we call them “New Reviewers”) completed five reviews and revisions, covering each journal and a range of article types, working on their reviews with experienced mentors. Following completion of the programme, the New Reviewers “graduated” to become full reviewers for the portfolio.

How does this programme support research integrity?

Peer reviewers comment on areas such as the significance, reliability and originality of research and are able to highlight any major areas for concern that may affect a handling editor’s decision to accept a paper for publication. The programme focuses on the core principles of peer review, encouraging a rigorous and thorough examination of a paper and looking at areas including methodology and research ethics.

What are the main benefits for researchers?

The programme provides career development for researchers, giving them an opportunity to learn the core skills of peer review whilst building a profile as a reviewer. New Reviewers work on live papers and learn how to critically appraise research with the help of senior researchers. The process helps participants to develop critical thinking and a knowledge of what peer reviewers are looking for that will, in turn, be helpful for their own future submissions. Reading papers slightly outside their own field is also beneficial for a wider prospective.

New Reviewers should have gained MRCPsych Part B or equivalent experience and have had little or no previous peer review experience. We understand that participants are likely to enter the programme from a variety of routes and are committed to ensuring it is open to all with suitable experience, particularly those from under-represented groups. By encouraging a more diverse pool of reviewers, we broaden our range of perspective, protect against bias, and strengthen expertise.

What has the feedback been from the mentors and mentees?

Feedback following the pilot has been very positive and we’ve appreciated advice on ways the programme can be enhanced and improved. We are working on further resources that will benefit programme participants and our peer reviewers more widely.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

We would like to thank everyone who has been involved in the programme so far and this includes, members of our working group, our pilot new reviewers and mentors and members of the RCPsych Publishing Team and editorial office. We will be announcing plans to roll out the programme on a wider scale soon.

Following the pilot, RCPsych Publishing are currently holding an open call for new mentors to join the programme. Mental Health researchers or clinicians with extensive peer review experience are welcome to apply. For further information visit BJPsych Portfolio New Peer Reviewer Programme.