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Editor's Page The ever-increasing number of manu- scripts sent to the Editor for possible publica- tion, and the inevitable high rejection rate have made this message necessary. In addi- tion, the backlog of accepted articles has now become so great that the lag between ac- ceptance and publication is much too long. And, incidentally, both of these problems create not only dilemmas but too many enemies. It is the Editor's conviction that perhaps a re-definition of the goals of the Academy and of its journal is required, despite the fact that these are stated quite clearly on the front cover of each issue. We are in existence "to explore the role of psychiatry in the daily practice of comprehensive medicine." This produces wide latitude, to be sure, but we can- not continue to accept articles which are "purely psychiatric", which should be publish- ed in journals whose goals and readers prob- ably differ from those of PSYCHOSOMATICS. However, the backlog of those already ac- cepted will delay fruition of these hopes for many months. Manuscripts should relate to "clinical practice" rather than to "pure research" as much as possible. And clinical practice should include family practice of medicine, the prac- tice of dentistry, as well as the many varied specialties, inclusive of psychiatry. The Editor is well aware that some psychiatrists do not consider psychiatry to be really a part of medicine, and have apparently relegated their early medical training into the depths of their unconscious mind. Angry protests will un- questionably result. Those that are publish- able might be published, but I doubt if space will permit the luxury of angry ventilation. Many readers have often written or stated that most of our published articles are writ- ten by psychiatrists and rarely from other sources. This is not only true but inevitable since too many physicians and others who are not psychiatrists have neither time, train- ing nor temperament to tangle with the emo- tional problems of their patients. This is espe- cially when there is definitive somatic illness, and strikes at the very roots of our problem. It explains the steadily increasing need for more and more psychiatrists and is the raison d'etre for both the Academy and the journal. The many psychiatrists who feel that other physicians can and must provide help for pa- tients with emotional problems must continue to contribute manuscripts. They will find PSYCHOSOMATICS will continue to be most re- ceptive to their efforts. W.D. * ., * Edwin McH. Dunlop Dr. Edwin McH. Dunlop of Attleboro, Mass., a Past-President of the Academy, as well as its Executive Secretary for many years, died suddenly in Cornwall, England on December 27, 1971. This truly came as a shock to his many, many friends and col- leagues. Death is difficult enough to accept, but this is especially so when one recalls the vital brilliance of this truly gifted individual. Ed was not merely an excellent psychiatrist; he was a dedicated physician, an excellent teacher as well as researcher. His sense of humor made him the obvious choice as toast- master at the annual banquet, and his lectures never failed to include a few well chosen stories to illustrate difficult clinical problems. The Academy, its journal (he was an As- sociate Editor), its Editorial Board, and above all the Editor, mourn his loss and hope that his wife Betty and his children will take some solace in that we share their grief. W.D. ThJ..s One 11111111111111111111111111111111111111111 F1F6-U8N-CLEG

Editor's Page

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Editor's Page

The ever-increasing number of manu­scripts sent to the Editor for possible publica­tion, and the inevitable high rejection ratehave made this message necessary. In addi­tion, the backlog of accepted articles has nowbecome so great that the lag between ac­ceptance and publication is much too long.And, incidentally, both of these problemscreate not only dilemmas but too manyenemies.

It is the Editor's conviction that perhapsa re-definition of the goals of the Academyand of its journal is required, despite the factthat these are stated quite clearly on the frontcover of each issue. We are in existence "toexplore the role of psychiatry in the dailypractice of comprehensive medicine." Thisproduces wide latitude, to be sure, but we can­not continue to accept articles which are"purely psychiatric", which should be publish­ed in journals whose goals and readers prob­ably differ from those of PSYCHOSOMATICS.However, the backlog of those already ac­cepted will delay fruition of these hopes formany months.

Manuscripts should relate to "clinicalpractice" rather than to "pure research" asmuch as possible. And clinical practice shouldinclude family practice of medicine, the prac­tice of dentistry, as well as the many variedspecialties, inclusive of psychiatry. The Editoris well aware that some psychiatrists do notconsider psychiatry to be really a part ofmedicine, and have apparently relegated theirearly medical training into the depths of theirunconscious mind. Angry protests will un­questionably result. Those that are publish­able might be published, but I doubt if spacewill permit the luxury of angry ventilation.

Many readers have often written or statedthat most of our published articles are writ­ten by psychiatrists and rarely from other

sources. This is not only true but inevitablesince too many physicians and others whoare not psychiatrists have neither time, train­ing nor temperament to tangle with the emo­tional problems of their patients. This is espe­cially when there is definitive somatic illness,and strikes at the very roots of our problem.It explains the steadily increasing need formore and more psychiatrists and is the raisond'etre for both the Academy and the journal.The many psychiatrists who feel that otherphysicians can and must provide help for pa­tients with emotional problems must continueto contribute manuscripts. They will findPSYCHOSOMATICS will continue to be most re­ceptive to their efforts.

W.D.

* ., *

Edwin McH. DunlopDr. Edwin McH. Dunlop of Attleboro,

Mass., a Past-President of the Academy, aswell as its Executive Secretary for manyyears, died suddenly in Cornwall, England onDecember 27, 1971. This truly came as ashock to his many, many friends and col­leagues. Death is difficult enough to accept,but this is especially so when one recalls thevital brilliance of this truly gifted individual.Ed was not merely an excellent psychiatrist;he was a dedicated physician, an excellentteacher as well as researcher. His sense ofhumor made him the obvious choice as toast­master at the annual banquet, and his lecturesnever failed to include a few well chosenstories to illustrate difficult clinical problems.

The Academy, its journal (he was an As­sociate Editor), its Editorial Board, and aboveall the Editor, mourn his loss and hope thathis wife Betty and his children will take somesolace in that we share their grief.

W.D.

ThJ..s One

11111111111111111111111111111111111111111 ~IF1F6-U8N-CLEG