Scientific Writing

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Scientific Writing Shahin Akhondzadeh
Ph.D. Neuroscientist Department of Psychiatry,
Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital, TUMS.
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• Research Ideas
•  In thinking about establishing a research
  program, it is important to consider what habits
  investigators need to cultivate in order to be
  successful in their chosen field.
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• Be a good listener
• Good researchers learn as much as they can
  from those around them. They learn from their
  patients, from the observations if fellow staff
  members at all levels, and from the accumulated
  knowledge of other investigators in the field.

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2. (Read, Read and Read)8 Reading papers in
your field, regardless of how finite it may seem
when one first approaches it, is enormous and in
becoming a clinical researcher one must have a
firm grasp, both deep and broad-based, of the
field of ones inquiry, and not uncommonly
several related fields as well.
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• 3. Attend national, if possible, international
  meetings.
• If all that one knows about a field is what
  has been published in professional journals, one
  is at least a year out of date. The most recent
  information is usually presented at meetings.
• Network
• When you begin to work in an area, it is
  very important to get know the most influential
  people, particularly in your own field at
  internationally level.

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5. Present at meetings or submit to journals
As soon as you can, submit and present
scientific data at meetings you have targeted as
the most important in your field. This will allow
you to obtain criticism and feedback on your work
and to become known to other investigators.   6.
Results that get results
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• Choosing an Area of Focus
•  At some point, an investigator needs to decide
  on an area on which to focus. Obviously, this
  decision is of great importance, and it should be
  based on a number of factors, including the
  following
• From your postgraduate education. It assume you
  are the best in your field of postgraduate thesis
• Interest in the area and questions that need to
  be asked, as well as interest in and compassion
  for this patient population.

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3. The availability of patients and necessary
equipment and/or methodology. 4. Is there a
niche? 5. The availability of collaborators and
mentors. 6. What is hot?
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Supportive Environment and peer Groups   One can
rarely do research in isolation. A desirable
situation is one in which other individuals are
working in the same or related areas. It is
important to work in a culture where research
productivity is valued, and where recognition is
given for it.  
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Categories of Papers Regular Research Articles
This category is intended for full scale basic or
clinical studies, usually up to 5000
words.   Brief Reports/Clinical Reports This
category ifs for smaller, self-contained
laboratory or clinical studies including series
of cases illustrating a novel therapeutic
approach or clinical observation.
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Rapid Communication. This category is for
fast-breaking new work, which is of the great
potential interest and can be succinctly
presented.   Review Articles They are usually
invited. Indeed, their writers should be expert
in that field.   Letters to the Editor These
should briefly report single experiments and
cases of clinical interest or respond to recent
articles.
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Choosing a Journal In thinking about where to
submit a paper for publication, several issues
must be considered. The researcher should ask,
How important is this study, and what readership
would be interested in it? Sending an article to
a journal when there is little or no chance of
the journal accepting it may take a great deal of
time and may delay publication of the article
until its importance to the field is diminished.
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In preparing a journal article, it is important
to follow the instructions to authors for those
particular journals.   One good way to decide
which journal is appropriate for an article is to
look at its reference list. This shows where
other articles in this field are being
published.   And finally, step-by-step you will
be patron of a specific journal!!!!!!
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Submitting Process After choosing the journal
and making the manuscript according to its
format, you should submit it to the editor with a
covering letter indicates  Title of the
manuscript Conflict of interest Name of
authors Demand for fast track service Type of
submitted article And finally why you chose that
journal
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Conclusion Like most academic tasks, writing
journal articles is a skill that is developed
over time.   Becoming a productive clinical
researcher requires one to publish, so he or she
must jump in, write up the results, submit the
manuscripts, promptly return the revised
manuscript, resubmit rejected manuscripts and
learn throughout the process
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Publications A. Papers 1- AKHONDZADEH, S.
STONE, T.W. (1994). Interaction between adenosine
and GABAA receptors on hippocampal neurons, Brain
Res., 665, 229-236. 2- AKHONDZADEH, S. STONE,
T.W. (1995). Potentiation by neurosteroids of
muscimol/adenosine interaction in rat
hippocampus. Brain Res., 677, 311-318.  
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3- AKHONDZADEH, S. STONE, T.W. (1995).
Induction of a novel form of hippocampal
long-term depression by muscimol Involvement of
GABAA but not glutamate receptors. Br. J.
Pharmacol., 115, 527-533. 4- AKHONDZADEH. S.
STONE, T.W. (1996). Glutamate-independent
long-term depression in rat hippocampus by
activation of GABAA receptors. Life Science., 58,
1023-1030.  5- AKHONDZADEH. S. STONE, T.W.
(1996). Muscimol-induced long-term depression in
the hippocampus Lack of dependence on
extracellular calcium. Neuroscience., 71,
581-588.
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6- AKHONDZADEH, S. STONE, T.W. (1996).
Maintenance of muscimol-induced long-term
depression by neurosteroids. Prog.
Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological
Psychiatry., 20, 277-289. 7- NOORBALA A.A.,
HOSSEINI S.H., MOHAMMADI M.R. AKHONDZADEH. S.
(1998). Combination of clomipramine and
nortriptyline in the treatment of
obsessive-compulsive disorder a double-blind,
placebo-controlled study. Journal of Clinical
Pharmacy and Therapeutics., 23, 155-159.
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8- AKHONDZADEH. S. STONE, T.W. (1998).
Potentiation of Muscimol-induced long-term
depression by benzodiazepines and prevention or
reversal by pregnenolone sulfate. Pharmacological
Research., 38, 441-448.   9- AKHONDZADEH. S.
STONE, T.W. (1999). Prevention of
muscimol-induced long-term depression by
brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Progress in
Neuropsychopharmacology and Biological
Psychiatry., 23, 1215-1226.  
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10- AKHONDZADEH S., EMAMIAN. E., ABHARI. S.A.
SHABESTARI. O. (1999). Is it time to have another
look at lithium in bipolar disorder? Progress in
Neuropsychopharmacology and Biological
Psychiatry., 23, 1011-1117.   11- NOORBALA A.A.,
AKHONDZADEH S., DAVARI-ASHTINAI R. and
AMINI-NOOSHABADI H. (1999). Piracetam in the
treatment of schizophrenia implications for the
glutamate hypothesis of schizophrenia. Journal of
Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics., 24, 369-374.
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12- AKHONDZADEH S., MOHAMMADI M.A.,
AMINI-NOOSHABADI H. and DAVARI-ASHTIANI R.
(1999). Cyproheptadine in treatment of chronic
schizophrenia a double-blind, placebo-controlled
study. Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and
Therapeutics., 24, 49-52.   13- AKHONDZADEH S.,
SHASAVAND E., JAMILIAN H.R., SHABESTARI O. and
KAMALIPOUR A. (2000). Dipyridamole in the
treatment of schizophrenia adenosine-dopamine
receptor interaction. Journal of Clinical
Pharmacy and Therapeutics., 25, 131-138.
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14- AKHONDZADEH S., AHMADI-ABHARI S.A., ASSADI
S.M., SHABESTARI O.L, KASHANI A.R. and
FARZANEHGAN, Z.M. (2000). Double-blind randomized
controlled trial of baclofen in the treatment of
opiates withdrawal. Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
and Therapeutics., 25, 347-353.   15-
AHMADI-ABHARI S.A., AKHONDZADEH S., ASSADI S.M.,
SHABESTARI O.L, FARZANEHGAN, Z.M. and A.
Kamalipour (2001). Baclofen versus clonidine in
the treatment of opiates withdrawal, side effects
aspect A double blind randomized controlled
trial. Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and
Therapeutics., 26, 67-71.
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16- AKHONDZADEH S., NAGHAVI H.R., VAZIRIAN M.,
SHAYEGANPOUR A., RASHIDI H. and KHANI M. (2001).
Passionflower in the treatment of generalized
anxiety A double-blind and randomized trial with
oxazepam. Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and
Therapeutics., 26, 363-367.   17- AKHONDZADEH
S., KASHANI L., MOBASSERI M., HOSSEINI S.H.,
NIKZAD S. and KHANI M. (2001). Passionflower in
the treatment of opiates withdrawal A
double-blind and randomized trial. Journal of
Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics., 26, 368-373.
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18- GODARZI SH., YASAMI M.T. and AKHONDZADEH S.
(2002). Cyproheptadine in autism. Eur.
Psychiatry.17 230-231.   19- MOHAMMADI M.R.,
AKHONDZADEH S., KASHANI L., IZADIAN E. and
OHADINIA S. (2002). Efficacy of theophylline
compared to methylphenidate for the treatment of
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in
children and adolescents. Eur. J. Psychiatry (in
press).
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20- AKHONDZADEH S., MOJTAHEDZADEH V. MIRSEPASSI
G.R. and KAMILIPOUR A. (2002). Diazoxide in the
treatment of schizophrenia a novel application
of potassium channel openers in the CNS
disorders. J. Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.
27, 453-459.   21- AKHONDZADEH S. MOHAMMADI M.R.
KHASHANI, L. (2002). Potentiation of
Muscimol-induced long-term depression by
benzodiazepines but not zolpidem. Progress in
Neuropsychopharmacology and Biological
Psychiatry. 26 1161-1166.
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22- AKHONDZADEH S. KASHANI L. JARVANDI S.
VAZIRIAN M. KHANI M. JAMSHIDI A.H. TAGHIZADEH M.
and KAMALIPOUR A. (2003). Comparison of Lavandula
officinalis tincture and imipramine in the
treatment of mild to moderate depression a
double-blind, randomized pilot study. Progress in
Neuropsychopharmacology and Biological
Psychiatry. 2003, 123-127.  23- AKHONDZADEH S.,
TAVAKOLIAN R., DAVARI-ASHTIANI R., ARABGOL F. and
AMINI-NOOSHABADI H. (2003). Selegiline in the
treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder in children a double blind randomized
and controlled trial. Progress in
Neuropsychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry
(in press)
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24- AKHONDZADEH S., Noroozian M., Mohammadi M.R.,
Ohadinia S., Jamshidi A.H. and Khani M. (2003)
Salvia officinalis extract in the treatment of
patients with mild to moderate Alzheimers
disease a double blind, randomized and
placebo-controlled trial. J. Clinical Pharmacy
and Therapeutics. 28, 1-7. 25- AKHONDZADEH S.,
Noroozian M., Mohammadi M.R., Ohadinia S.,
Jamshidi A.H. and Khani M. (2003) Melissa
officinalis extract in the treatment of patients
with mild to moderate Alzheimers disease a
double blind, randomized and placebo-controlled
trial. BMJ. (in press)
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C. Editorial   26- AKHONDZADEH S. (1998). The
glutamate hypothesis of schizophrenia. Journal of
Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics. 23,
243-246.    
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D. Review Article 27- AKHONDZADEH S. (1999).
Hippocampal synaptic plasticity and cognition.
Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.,
24, 241-248. 28- AKHONDZADEH S. (2001) The 5-HT
hypothesis of schizophrenia. IDRUGS., 4,
295-300. 29- AKHONDZADEH S. MOHAMMADI M.R.
(2001). Schizophrenia etiology and
pharmacotherapy. IDRUGS., 4, 1167-1172. 30-
AKHONDZADEH S. Noroozian M. (2002). Alzheimers
disease Pathophysiology and pharmacotherapy.
IDRUGS., 5, 1052-1059
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E. Abstracts (in journals) 31- AKHONDZADEH, S.
STONE, T.W. (1994). Enhancement by muscimol of
adenosine effects on population spikes in the
presence of barium. Canadian J. Physiol.
Pharmacol., 72, 503. 32- AKHONDZADEH, S.
STONE, T.W. (1994). Enhancement by muscimol of
adenosine effects on hippocampal population
spikes, Br. J. Pharmacol., 112, 612P. 33-
AKHONDZADEH, S. STONE, T.W. (1994). Suppression
by DIDS of an interaction between adenosine and
muscimol in the hippocampus. Br. J. Pharmacol.,
113, 106P.
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34- AKHONDZADEH, S. STONE, T.W. (1995).
neurosteroids enhance muscimol and adenosine
potentiation in the presence of barium. Br. J.
Pharmacol. 114, 292P. 35- AKHONDZADEH, S.
STONE, T.W. (1995) Neurosteroids potentiate GABA
and adenosine inhibition of hippocampal evoked
potentials. Br. J. Pharmacol. 114, 293P.  36-
AKHONDZADEH, S., SHABESTARI, O.L. FARZANEHGAN,
Z.M. (2000). Potentiation of muscimol-induced
long-term depression by diazepam and
chlordiazepoxide. Br. J. Pharmacol., 129, 163.
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37- AKHONDZADEH S., MOHAMMADI, M.R.,
DAVARI-ASHTIANI, R., AMINI-NOOSHABADI, H.
FARZANEHGAN, Z.M. (2000). 38- Cyproheptadine in
the treatment of chronic schizophrenia
implications for the 5-HT hypothesis of
schizophrenia. Br. J. Clin. Pharmacol., 49,
491.  39- AKHONDZADEH S., NOORBALA, A.A.,
DAVARI-ASHTIANI, R., AMINI-NOOSHABADI, H.
SHABESTARI, O.L. (2000). Piracetam in the
treatment of schizophrenia a double-blind,
placebo-controlled study. Br. J. Clin. Pharmacol.
49, 507.
32
40 NOORBALA A.A., MOHAMMADI M.R., AKHONDZADEH S.
and HOSSENI S.H. (2000). Combination of
clomipramine and nortriptyline in the treatment
of obsessive-compulsive disorder Implication for
noradrenergic-serotonergic hypothesis. Br. J.
Clin. Pharmacol. 52, 60P.   41- AKHONDZADEH S.,
SHAHSAVAND E., JAMILIAN H.R. SHABESTARI O.
(2000). Dipyridamole in the treatment of
schizophrenia adenosine-dopamine receptor
interaction. Br. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 52, 61P.
33
42- AKHONDZADEH S., AHMADI-ABHARI S.A., ASSADI
S.M. SHABESTARI O.L. (2000). Double-blind
randomized controlled trial of baclofen in the
treatment of opiates withdrawal. Br. J. Clin.
Pharmacol. 51, 364P.   43- AKHONDZADEH S.
KHASHANI L. and MOBASERI M. (2002). Potentiation
of Muscimol-induced long-term depression by
benzodiazepines but not zolpidem. Br. J.
Pharmacology. 135, U37.
34
44- AKHONDZADEH S., TAVAKOLIAN R.,
DAVARI-ASHTIANI R. and AMINI-NOOSHABADI H.
(2002). Selegiline in the treatment of attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder in children a
double blind randomized and controlled trial. Br.
J. Clin. Pharmacology, 54, 39P.  45- AKHONDZADEH
S., MOJTAHEDZADEH V. and MIRSEPASSI G.R. (2002).
Diazoxide in the treatment of schizophrenia a
novel application of potassium channel openers in
the CNS disorders. Br. J. Clin. Pharmacology54,
40P.
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F. Book   Encylopedia of Iranian Medicinal
Plants (in persian). Arjomand Press, 2000,
Tehran, Iran.   G. Other Communications A number
of full papers, oral presentations and lectures
in Iranian journals and congress-seminars.
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Analysis of papers submitted to the BMJ
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Rejection - Why?

• Wrong Journal
• Offering too long
• Faults in presentation
• Retrospective study
• Statistics
• Failure to standardise methods
• Groups in trial not comparable

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The object of a Scientific Paper

• Enable the reader to
• Assess the observations you made
• Repeat the experiment if they wish
• Determine whether the conclusions drawn are
  justified
• Basic structure
• IMRAD

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Structure of a Scientific Paper

• Introduction (What question was asked?)
• Methods (How was it studied?)
• Results (What was found?)
• And
• Discussion (What do the findings mean?)
• Titles, Authors, Abstract, References

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Introduction
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Introduction

• What do I have to say ?
• Is it worth saying?
• What is the right format for the message?
• What is the audience for the message?
• What is the right journal for the message?

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Introduction (2)

• Brief
• Clear (What is the question)
• Instructions to authors
• Clarify what your work adds (Importance)
• Balance of references (For and Against)
• Dont overdo it

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Introduction (3)

• Two main functions
• Awaken the readers interest
• Direct and to the point
• Be informative
• What is known
• State the Question

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Methods Materials This, too, is an easy
section.   You know you did, and here you merely
report it. However, science relies on
replication.   Try not to frustrate the reader
the same way, as you were frustrated.   In a
clinical study, make sure the subjects, including
controls, are defined both clinically and
demographically so well that analogous
populations could be gathered by others
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Do not refer to unpublished methods List the
source of any materials that are not routinely
available.   Indicate how the data were handled
and refer to any statistical procedures you may
have used.   Methods is usually divided into
subsections that include study design, study
population, treatments (Interventions),
measurements, and statistical analysis.
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Study Design   Method of randomization, type of
blinding, type of Control Parrarel -group or
Crossover design   Multicenter or single center
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Study Population Inclusion and exclusion
Criteria Specify Requirements as to health
condition, age, gender, ethnic background, weight
and height The criteria used in the diagnosis of
the disease should be given Species, strain and
serotype of microorganisms Writers must give a
complete picture of the patients disease
severity and duration, any concomitant health
problems, and concomitant medications Ethic
Subsection
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Treatment In the treatment subsection, the writer
specifies the drugs, the dosage regimens
evaluated, route and method of administration,
and composition of the placebo used. Measurements
The writer describes in the measurements
subsection the end points that define clinical
efficacy Patients safety Follow up visits
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Statistical Analysis The writer states whether an
intent to treat analysis was used in which case
the outcomes of all patients were analyzed with
the group to which they were originally assigned,
whether or not they completed the protocol. If an
additional analysis was performed on patients who
completed the trial as planned.   Two tailed or
one tailed ? Level
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CONSORT PROTOCOL
Flow diagram of the progress through the phases
of a randomized trial  
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Results
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Results

• Results section - two key features
• 1) Overall description of major findings
• 2) Clear and concise data

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Results (2)

• Use a mixture of text, tables and figures
• Give the actual number of results plotted
• Establish how comparable your groups were
• Degrees of accuracy?
• Condensed results (Range, Mean Spread)

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Tables and Figures

• Title text - brief
• Convey max. amount of information
• Placed and punctuated uniformly
• Legend
• Fully self -explanatory
• Tables and figures must be mentioned at least
  once in the body of the text

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The Illustrations
A picture is worth a thousand words if it is
a good one
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FILE FORMATS OF FIGURES

• EPS (preferred format for diagrams)
• PDF (also especially suitable for diagrams)
• PNG (preferred format for photos or images)
• Microsoft Word (figures must be A4 portrait,
  single page only)
• PowerPoint (figures must be a single page)
• TIFF
• JPEG
• BMP
• EXL
• Good general tools for image conversion include
  GraphicConverter on the Macintosh, PaintShop Pro
  for Windows, and ImageMagick , which is available
  on Macintosh, Windows and UNIX platforms.

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Results summary

• Easiest part to write
• At the start of study you should know
• type of record traces
• tables to be included
• Text will tell the story
• Tables are the meat
• Illustrations for dramatic impressions