Is there a need for another sleep journal?
OBJECTIVE
A new sleep journal, Behavioral Sleep Medicine (BSM), will publish its first issue shortly. This journal is interested in the application of behavioral/cognitive science to the study of normal and disordered sleep. I review the historical background leading to the creation of this journal and then focus on the justification for starting this journal.


METHODS
The justification is mainly based on the availability and distribution of behavioral sleep medicine (bsm) research. We conducted a content analysis of sleep and nonsleep journals.


RESULTS
We found that 17% of articles published in mainstream sleep journals relate to bsm. Most (75%) of the bsm literature is distributed among a large number of nonsleep journals, detracting from the visibility of bsm.


CONCLUSIONS
BSM is needed to provide a focal point for this large but dispersed literature. Those who prize the field of bsm covet the aspiration that the journal will serve as a beacon stimulating clinical interest and scientific progress in this area.
Lichstein
Kenneth L
KL
Sleep Research Project, Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, 202 Psychology Bldg, Memphis, TN 38152-3230, USA. lichstein@mail.psyc.memphis.edu
D006801:Humans; D011643:Publishing; D012106:Research / Q000639:trends; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders