These must provide clear evidence that an adverse drug reaction or medical device failure has occurred. It should either be a new reaction or one that has been reported less than five times. Authors should be aware of the commercial sensitivity of these events and should include details of reports to the relevant pharmaceutical/equipment company and government agency.

The patient’s written permission to publish their case must be obtained prior to submission.

The article should be divided into the title page, summary, introduction, case report, discussion, conclusions, learning points and references.

Word count: up to 1000 words.
Abstract: up to 100 words.
Tables/Illustrations: up to 2.
References: up to 10.

These are usually commissioned by the editor but we welcome suggestions for topics and authors. Please email us at pmj@bmjgroup.com.

The article should review current clinical practice with evidence from controlled clinical trials. Where no evidence exists, it should be made clear what is based on consensus and what is based on personal experience or opinion. The article should summarise what national guidelines are available and where these can be sourced. The extent to which the guidelines are evidence or consensus-based, and a comment on their importance. should be discussed. Areas of controversy should be included. The author should state, from a personal viewpoint, on which side he/she would come down, and why.

The article should provide a list of useful websites for patients and doctors, together with information on self-help groups and sources of good quality patient information. The author should select from the complete list of references, the top five review or original articles published within the last five years, for further reading. These should be placed in a box for ease of identification. A complete list of references should be included at the end of the article in the usual way.

At the end of the article there should be between five and ten self-test questions on the content of the article. These can be multiple choice or open questions. A set of answers should accompany the article.

Word count: between 2000 and 3000 words.
Abstract: up to 150 words.
Tables: up to 5.
Illustrations: up to 3.
References: up to 100.

We all see interesting patients at times, but why should they be reported in the PMJ? Case reports need to show either an unusual clinical development, and/or a new insight into a well recognised clinical problem. This clearly excludes the simple reporting of rare cases. A case report needs to have an educational message and must provide evidence of how the case contributes to our understanding of the disease.

All reports must summarise the key learning points in a series of brief statements. The patient’s written permission to publish their case must be obtained prior to submission.

The article should be divided into the title page, summary, introduction, case report, discussion, conclusions, learning points and references. The title should contain no more than 10 words.

Word count: up to 1000 words.
Abstract: up to 100 words.
Tables/Illustrations: up to 2.
References: up to 10.

Where research is all about discovery, audit is the process of examining and reflecting on established clinical practice to identify where improvements can be made. Articles should describe the full audit cycle, from identifying the problem and subsequent re-auditing.

Audit papers should contain a title page, structured abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, conclusions and references.

Word count: up to 2000 words.
Structured Abstract: up to 200 words.
Tables/Illustrations: up to 5.
References: up to 20.

These are commissioned by the editor to accompany one or more published articles.

Word count: up to 1500 words.
Abstract: not required.
Tables/illustrations: up to 2.
References: up to 10.

This is a forum for debating the challenging and difficult issues currently confronting the medical profession. Two articles should be submitted; one offering a ‘view’ and the other providing the ‘counter-view’. Each should contain cogent arguments backed up with relevant references.

For each article:
Word count : up to 2000 words.
Abstract: not required.
Tables/illustrations: up to 1.
References: up to 25.

Editorials should deal with contemporary issues of importance to clinicians. Their content can be clinical, social, political, legal or related to research issues. Although they may be controversial, they should attempt to provide a balanced view. Editorials provide a personal view and, as such, will not be routinely submitted to peer review.

Word count: 1000 to 2000 words.
Abstract: not required.
Tables/illustrations: not normally included.
References: up to 10.

These encompass a variety of resources and are commissioned by the editor.

These articles focus on ethical, ethnic or legal aspects of clinical practice and examine the implications for patient care. Articles can be submitted either as a comprehensive Review Article or as an Original Article.

Fillers can either be a written account or a photograph. We welcome summaries of around 250 words that provide light, informative reading. Subjects might include favourite books and music, self help groups, life defining moments, memorable patients, historical events and anniversaries. Photographs that add interest and variety to the PMJ should be accompanied by a brief caption.

Articles can review any historical topic that is of relevance and interest to a general medical audience.

Word count: between 2000 and 3000 words.
Abstract: up to 150 words.
Tables & illustrations: up to 5.
References: up to 50.

Images should have a clear educational message or are aesthetically interesting. They can relate to historical aspects of medicine in the broadest term. A picture which ‘shocks’ is unlikely to be published simply for its horror value. The selected image(s) should be clearly described and be accompanied by a succinct case history. In addition pictures must have definition and be capable of good quality reproduction in the journal.

The patient’s written permission to publish their case must be obtained prior to submission.

Word count: up to 500 words.
Abstract: not required.
Illustrations: up to 2.
References: up to 5.

This is a new section of the PMJ and ideas for contributions are welcome. Please email us at pmj@bmjgroup.com.

Video collection
Video demonstrations of clinical, surgical, technological or laboratory topics will be featured on PMJ Online. Videos should be 2-3 minutes long and can accompany any of the article types described here. A 25-50 word legend or audio voice-over should be provided.

Alternatively, the video can be submitted as a stand-alone resource. It should be accompanied by an explanatory account of around 1000 words or an audio voice-over. Written accounts should include a title page, introduction, methods or technique shown, comments, and up to 5 references.

If individual patients are involved, their written permission to publish the video must be obtained prior to submission.

Image quiz
This is designed to help candidates preparing for the MRCP or equivalent. Any number of images can be included, but the emphasis should be on selecting conditions that candidates are likely to experience in the examination and in clinical practice.

The quiz should start with a brief introduction, giving the aim and scope of the quiz and its intended audience. Each image should be accompanied by a brief summary of the case (if appropriate) and question(s) that are designed to test the participant’s knowledge. The answer(s) should follow separately and should include a brief description of the diagnostic features of the image and the key learning points.

The quiz can be submitted either as a PowerPoint presentation or with the images saved in TIFF, JPEG or EPS format and the accompanying text saved as a Word document or equivalent.

All online resources, including those that have been invited, are subject to peer review. If individual patients are involved, their written permission to publish the material must be obtained prior to submission.

Specialty image collections
Specialty collections can contain any number of images that will be of interest to trainees and specialists in a particular field. Images can cover a wide range of conditions from the relatively common to the obscure, and should be graded in terms of suitability for trainees and specialists.

A brief introduction should outline the collection’s scope and intended audience. Each image should be accompanied by a brief summary of the case (if appropriate) and question or questions aimed at stimulating the reader’s analytical skills. The answer(s) should follow separately and should include a brief description of the diagnostic features of the image and the key teaching or learning points.

The subject collection can be submitted either as a PowerPoint presentation or with the images saved in TIFF, JPEG or EPS format and the accompanying text saved as a Word document or equivalent.

All online resources, including those that have been invited, are subject to peer review. If individual patients are involved, their written permission to publish the material must be obtained prior to submission.

Original articles are always welcome at the PMJ. We continue to believe in the value of clinical research and to encourage its impact on health care. For most doctors this is the reason they took up clinical practice. All of us should be enthusiastic about applying scientific methodology to patient investigation, care and treatment and so ensure the provision of the best service that we can achieve.

Articles should be presented in a way that is accessible to readers of a general medical journal. All research papers involving human subjects MUST contain a statement about ethics committee approval. Reports of randomised controlled trials should follow the revised CONSORT statement (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials.) published in JAMA (2001;285:1987-91), as closely as possible. See RCTs for more guidelines.

Papers should also summarise in list-form "What is already known on the subject" and "What this study adds".

Word count: up to 3000 words
Structured abstract: Abstracts of up to 250 words are required for all original articles. Headings for experimental or observational studies should include: purpose of the study, study design, results and conclusions. Headings for randomised controlled trials and meta-analyses should, as a guide, include: aim, design, setting, patients, interventions, main outcome measures, results, and conclusions.
Tables/illustrations: up to 6
References: up to 30

From the wide range of experiences gained in medicine, these accounts provide an outlet for expressing personal views and opinions on controversial and topical issues that affect the profession.

Word count: 1000 to 2000 words.
Abstract: not required.
Tables/illustrations: not normally included.
References: up to 10.

Review articles must be up-to-date and provide practical and clear guidance where possible for the clinician. Areas of uncertainty need to be documented and referenced. The views expressed in favour of one form of treatment as opposed to another should be soundly based and referenced. Of course, as practising clinicians we all have developed certain biases over the years. When a review article discusses such personal preferences the authors are encouraged to make it clear that this is exactly what they are - personal preferences and prejudices. However, such views need to be kept to a minimum. They only have a small part in contemporary clinical practice and would be hard to defend against criticism.

Liberal use should be made of bulleted learning points. Up to 100 references may be included and, from these, the authors should select five that they consider to be the key references for further reading. At the end of the review five multiple choice questions should be provided, together with the answers in true/false format.

Word count: Between 2000 and 5000 words.
Abstract: up to 150 words.
Tables: up to 5.
Illustrations: up to 3.
References: up to 100.

Their purpose is to provide up-to-date education about clinical conditions. They do not need to be about rare diseases, but they do need to act as a vehicle by which clinicians can test their present knowledge and learn about new aspects of diagnosis and treatment. Clinical rarity is not an important aspect of the case; indeed, at times, it detracts from the educational value of the question. SAQs should contain a clear educational message and should not be seen as ‘failed case reports’. They have different functions and a rejected case report is unlikely to make a useful SAQ.

The article should be divided into title page, presentation of the case, up to 3 questions with answers, discussion, final diagnosis and references.

The patient’s written permission to publish their case must be obtained prior to submission.

Word count: Up to 1500 words, including the questions and answers
Summary: Not required.
Tables/illustrations: Up to 3 (may include ECGs, x-rays, clinical photographs and videos).
References: Up to 15 (5 per question).

These are brief reports of original research and authors should refer to Original Articles for guidance.

Word count: up to 1200 words.
Abstract: up to 100 words
Tables/illustrations: up to 2.
References: up to 10.

The BMJ Publishing Group journals are willing to consider publishing supplements to regular issues. Supplement proposals may be made at the request of:

1. The journal editor, an editorial board member or a learned society may wish to organise a meeting, sponsorship may be sought and the proceedings published as a supplement
2. The journal editor, editorial board member or learned society may wish to commission a supplement on a particular theme or topic. Again, sponsorship may be sought
3. The BMJPG itself may have proposals for supplements where sponsorship may be necessary.
4. A sponsoring organisation, often a pharmaceutical company or a charitable foundation, that wishes to arrange a meeting, the proceedings of which will be published as a supplement.

For further information on criteria that must be fulfilled, download the supplements guidelines (PDF).

These accounts are designed to be a quick and handy guide to what is new in clinical practice, with tips for management and pitfalls to avoid. Tips and traps should be assembled in a bulleted list with a succinct explanation provided for each point.

Word count: Up to 500 words.
Summary: not required.
Illustrations: up to 2.
References: up to 5.