Journal of Pakistan Psychiatric Society (JPPS) follows the International Committee of Medical Journals Editor (ICMJE) guidelines for authorship criteria as “Defining the Role of Authors and Contributors” available at: http://www.icmje.org./recommendations/browse/roles-and-responsibilities/defining-the-role-of-authors-and-contributors.html

The principal author has to ensure that each author has sufficiently contributed to the work to be qualified as an author. As per ICMJE guidelines one has to meet all four criteria for the authorship as follows.
1. Conception or design.
2. Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data.
3. Manuscript writing and approval.
4. All the authors agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved
Authorship cannot be justified by merely arranging a research grant, collection of data, or general supervision of the project. Such activities may be otherwise acknowledged.

The principal author has to submit the names and order of the authors with their contribution to the work at submission. No addition of authors is allowed later on. The authors’ contributions will be published in the document. Any dispute in authorship will be settled by the editorial board in light of ICMJE and COPE guidelines.