[Impact factors and publication time spans of child and adolescent psychiatry journals].
OBJECTIVE
The impact factor (IF) of a scientific journal plays a central role in a scientist's decision where to publish his or her research results. Authors also show interest in the publication time span (time span between the submission and the online or print publication of a article). This paper presents an overview of the IF and editorial time spans of German and international child and adolescent psychiatric journals and compares them to those of journals of adult psychiatry.


METHODS
The authors first conducted a data bank search at the Journal Citation Reports, concerning IF and IF-development for key journals of child and adolescent psychiatry from 2002-2007. They then manually analyzed pertinent child and adolescent journals regarding the time span for publications in the year 2007.


RESULTS
To date, nine child and adolescent psychiatric journals exist, whereof eight present with an impact factor. The IF ranges from 0.419 (praxis der Kinderpsychologie und Kinderpsychiatrie) to 4.655 (Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry). The editorial handling time ranges between 5.4 and 13.2 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Even though this academic discipline is "small", child and adolescent psychiatry disposes of international journals presenting with competitive IFs. Both German journals show a low IF. The editorial handling times were reasonable, but could be further reduced by offering prior online publication.
Haberhausen
Michael
M
Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie und -psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Giessen und Marburg GmbH, Standort Marburg, Germany.
Bachmann
Christian
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000296:Adolescent Psychiatry; D002648:Child; D002665:Child Psychiatry; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D035081:Editorial Policies; D006801:Humans; D055811:Journal Impact Factor; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D012106:Research; D013996:Time and Motion Studies