Epilepsia Open Author Guidelines

If you have a question not addressed in these pages, please contact the journal at [email protected]. Please note this journal uses free format submission, please see free format section.

Epilepsia Open is the official open access, online only journal of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE). Open access has the advantage of unrestricted and immediate access for any reader regardless of financial constraints. This provides an incentive for a larger readership and thus the possibility of more citations. There is no submission fee but the journal requires an article publication charge for certain types of articles. For more information about this journal's APC's, please visit the Open Access Page.

Scope

Epilepsia Openwill publish peer-reviewed, high quality articles covering the entire breadth of translational and clinical research in epilepsy within all disciplines of life and health sciences, ranging from basic scienceto clinical and public/global health science and societal impact studies. The journal will give a high priority on rapid publication of a broad range of high quality research studies, from experimental findings in preclinical and clinical research, methodological and technical innovations, clinical and preclinical trials, observational studies including case vignette of high relevance and critical analyses of facts and concepts, hypotheses, and meta-analysis. Epilepsia Openwill also consider high quality confirmatory, negative and failure-to-confirm studies. In addition,Epilepsia Openwill publish communications from the International League Against Epilepsy and the chapters of ILAE. A priority is given to commentaries and reviews that enhance the access and application of basic research findings for clinical scientists, and promote a better understanding of clinical challenges for biomedical researchers. For any questions contact us at: [email protected].

Manuscripts should be the work of the author(s), must not have been previously published elsewhere, and must not be under consideration by another journal.

Editorial Polices

(1) The Editors-in-Chief of Epilepsia Open invite manuscripts in all areas of epilepsy-related research. Authors are required to pay an article publication charge (APC) per article for certain types of articles. A listing of APC charges can be found here. Epilepsia Open offers an APC waiver or discount to authors based in developing countries, young investigators under the age of 35 years, or when there are specific situations, discussed with the Editors in Chief, that prevent the authors from providing the APC. In such cases, waivers will be determined upon submission and after specific request of the authors. Discounts to the APC fees are also available to members of the ILAE and can be provided by contacting [email protected]. As a general guide, manuscripts will be considered for publication if they offer new findings or provide definitive confirmation of controversial findings. Reports are unlikely to be accepted for publication if they are not based in sound science and/or they do not add relevant knowledge for readers. The primary aim of Epilepsia Open is to rapidly publish robust results that provide insights in all types of epilepsy research.

The Editors will make an initial evaluation of all manuscripts to determine whether they conform to editorial policies, are in the proper format, and are appropriate for the Journal (editorial review)

(2) All manuscripts passing the initial editorial screening will be subject to external peer review. At least two reviews are generally obtained for submissions; additional reviews may be sought at the discretion of the Editors. Appeals of rejection decisions will be considered by the Editors-in-Chief.

(3) In the cover letter, authors should indicate that the material described in the manuscript is the work of the author(s), has not been previously published, except in abstract form, and that it is not simultaneously under consideration by any other journal. For Preliminary Reports, the authors should describe the reason why the study could not be completed. Requests for waivers of the APC should also be included in the cover letter, with proper justification of the request.

(4) Epilepsia Open authors will hold the copyright for their articles—more information is available at /page/journal/24709239/homepage/open_access_license_and_copyright.htm.

(5) Epilepsia Open complies with recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (http://www.icmje.org/) Authors are required to include a statement at the end of their manuscript affirming that the work described is consistent with the Journal’s guidelines for ethical publication (see below). Epilepsia Open is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), and we adhere to its principles (http://publicationethics.org/).

(6) Data reporting should follow appropriate checklists and guidelines (e.g., STROBE for observational trials; CONSORT for clinical trials), and other checklists should be consulted for other reports including diagnostic accuracy (STARD) or meta-analyses (PRISMA). Checklists can be downloaded from the following:

STROBE – https://www.strobe-statement.org/?id=strobehome

CONSORT – http://www.consort-statement.org/

STARD – https://www.equator-network.org/reporting-guidelines/stard/

PRISMA – http://www.prisma-statement.org/

(7) For animal experiments, Epilepsia Open will accept, review, and publish studies provided that appropriate controls have been used, the study design is adequate. It is strongly recommended that data reporting considers the ARRIVE guidelines^a, the NINDS recommendations on transparent reporting^b, and the technical / methodological recommendations of the AES/ILAE Translational Task Force of the ILAE for epilepsy research studies^c,d. Authors must state that the experiments have been performed in accordance with all applicable national and/ or international guidelines/laws. The authors should also provide their allowance number for performing animal experiments when available and should add a statement indicating that the principles outlined in the ARRIVE guidelines (https://www.nc3rs.org.uk/sites/default/files/documents/Guidelines/NC3Rs%20ARRIVE%20Guidelines%202013.pdf) and the Basel declaration (https://www.basel-declaration.org/) including the 3R concept (replacement, refinement, and reduction of animals in research)^e have been considered when planning the experiments.

(a) Kilkenny C, Browne WJ, Cuthill IC, et al. Improving bioscience research reporting: the ARRIVE guidelines for reporting animal research. PloS Biol. 2010;8:e1000412. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2893951/)

(b) Landis SC, Amara SG, Asadullah K, et al. A call for transparent reporting to optimize the predictive value of preclinical research. Nature. 2012;490:187-91. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3511845/)

(c) Galanopoulou AS, Buckmaster PS, Staley KJ, et al. Identification of new epilepsy treatments: issues in pre-clinical methodology. Epilepsia. 2012;53:571-82. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3551973/)

(d) Galanopoulou AS, Kokaia M, Loeb JA, et al. Epilepsy therapy development: technical and methodologic issues in studies with animal models. Epilepsia. 2013;54 Suppl 4:13-23. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3747731/)

(e) I Lidster K, Jefferys JG, Blumcke I, et al. Opportunities for improving animal welfare in rodent models of epilepsy and seizures. J Neurosci Methods. 2016;260:2-25. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26376175)

(8) In submitting a manuscript, the submitting/corresponding author must acknowledge in the cover letter that: a) all co-authors have been substantially involved in the study and/or the preparation of the manuscript; b) no undisclosed groups or persons have had a primary role in the study and/or in manuscript preparation (i.e., there are no “ghost-writers”); and c) all co-authors have seen and approved the submitted version of the paper and accept responsibility for its content. The Editors reserve the right to require authors to submit their original data for comparison with the manuscript’s illustrations, tables, and results.

(9) Epilepsia Open encourages authors to share the data and other artefacts supporting the results in the paper by archiving it in an appropriate public repository. Authors may provide a data availability statement, including a link to the repository they have used, in order that this statement can be published in their paper. Shared data should be cited. All accepted manuscripts may elect to publish a data availability statement to confirm the presence or absence of shared data. If you have shared data, this statement will describe how the data can be accessed, and include a persistent identifier (e.g., a DOI for the data, or an accession number) from the repository where you shared the data. You may use the Standard Templates for Author Use or draft your own.

(10) Sometimes Editors make mistakes. If an author believes an Editor has made a decision in error we welcome an appeal. Please contact the Editors-in-Chief ([email protected]) and in your appeal letter, clearly state why you think the decision is a mistake and set out specific responses to any comments related to the rejection. An appeal does not guarantee a re-review.

Types of Manuscripts

The following types of material may be considered for publication:

Peer-reviewed Papers (to be submitted by uploading online via Research Exchange https://wiley.atyponrex.com/journal/EPI4) include:
1. Reviews and Commentaries: The Editors-in-Chief encourage submission of reviews and commentaries on topical and controversial issues and concepts. Authors planning/proposing such papers should contact the Editors-in-Chief at [email protected] before submitting their manuscripts. Authors can also approach one of Epilepsia Open’s Associate Editors about possible reviews. Epilepsia Open publishes four types of reviews: Critical Reviews, Historical Reviews, Narrative Reviews, and Systematic Reviews. While there are no strict length limits on this type of paper, manuscripts generally should be around 4-5000 words. Ample figures and tables are encouraged. Longer manuscripts will be considered at the discretion of the Editors-in-Chief, but justification should be provided by the authors.
2. Full-length Original Research Articles: These articles should be limited in length to 4000 words and no more than 6 figures and tables (combined). Epilepsia Open will publish studies with negative results or failure to replicate studies, provided that appropriate methods have been used, the study is adequately powered, and the results are important and or useful to others in the research community. Additional figures and tables will be permitted at the discretion of the Editors-in-Chief or can be submitted as Supporting Information (which will be linked to the online version of the published article). Authors should aim for presenting material clearly and completely, in the most concise and direct form possible; the Introduction should be brief (typically less than 600 words), and the Discussion should be restricted to issues directly relevant to the Results (typically less than 1200 words).
3. Short Original Research Articles: The Editors-in-Chief encourage submission of short research articles on topical and controversial issues including original observations of diagnostic approaches, case vignettes of high relevance, therapeutic effects and/or adverse effects of epilepsy treatment. These articles including short studies, small series, early studies, etc. should describe previously unpublished material, including original research and/or clinical observations. Epilepsia Open rarely publishes case reports, unless they definitively identify a new mechanism of disease or treatment. The papers are limited generally to 1800 words (excluding the summary), references will be as necessary, and no more than 3 figures and tables (combined). Please note that the Editors may use their discretion to request that short research articles be shortened to a length that they feel is appropriate, and may provide for a larger number of figures and tables if justified.
4. Concepts and Hypotheses: For emerging areas related to epilepsy care and research for which there is more opinion than high quality data or interesting concepts or hypotheses including those that challenge dogmas, Epilepsia Open uses the Concepts and Hypotheses series as a venue. Authors can also propose a pro- and con-position each limited to 2000 words. Contact the editors at [email protected] before submitting in this series.
5. Multicenter Original Research Articles: Multicenter studies often entail research studies with a similar overall objective that are conducted at different but collaborating research laboratories or sites. These may include collaborative research with either (a) different methodologies but complementary research findings which are pertinent to the overall aim of the multicenter project or (b) projects with a similar study design and goals conducted at different sites, which however merit separate publications to improve transparency and interpretation of data, facilitate across sites-comparisons, and inform on replicability of the research. To promote transparency, as well as allow investigators from each site receive credit for their work, Epilepsia Open will consider parallel submissions of manuscripts, comprised of (a) site-specific short original research articles, and (b) an overview manuscript providing the overall scope and study design, across site comparisons, and synthesis of data.
  - The overview manuscript will be up to 1800 words, excluding summary, and will provide the introduction, general study design and methods; results may include across site comparisons and up to 3 figures and tables, as applicable, and discussion will provide a synthesis of the findings from the site-specific articles.
  - Each site-specific article should follow the general format of short original articles, typically up to 1800 words excluding summary and references, and up to 3 figures and tables combined. Introduction, methods, results, and discussion will be focused to the site-specific research, and will be citing the overview paper as needed, to minimize redundancies.
  - Authors interested in submitting multicenter original research articles should contact the Editors-in-Chief in advance for approval as well as to coordinate the submissions and their peer review. A justification for this request should be provided.
  - If accepted, each manuscript will be cited separately in PubMed. Each site-specific short original article will be subject to APC fees. However, the overview manuscript will be published free of APCs. Manuscripts would preferably be submitted simultaneously to facilitate the peer review and, once accepted, will be published in the same issue of Epilepsia Open.
6. Protocol Papers: Epilepsia Open welcomes your submissions of methods and research processes. Authors considering submitting a manuscript under this category are advised to consult and follow the SPIRIT statement for clinical trial protocols and the PRISMA-P guidelines for systematic review protocols. For qualitative studies, authors are advised to check SRQR, which is a synthesis of recommendations for reporting qualitative research, and to follow the COREQ checklist for interviews and focus groups. Protocols of randomized controlled trials should follow the CONSORT guidelines, and all Clinical Trials should be registered (as noted above). The registration number should be provided in your manuscript. We cannot consider manuscripts reporting trials that were registered retrospectively. The month and year of obtaining ethical approval should be mentioned in the abstract and main manuscript. Protocols should be written with a view to carrying out the study (i.e., “data collection will involve; data will be analyzed…’) and not as if the study has been completed. Typical lengths for manuscripts of this type are about 4,000 words with an abstract of 250 words or less and with a maximum of 6 Figures and Tables. Manuscripts should include an introduction, methods section, description of planned analyses and a statement of power analyses calculations, followed by a discussion. The Journal will consider longer initial submissions provided that the accompanying cover letter outlines the reasons for doing so and with the understanding that accepted manuscripts may be edited to a length more typical of this manuscript type. Additional flexibility will be considered by the Editor-in-Chief on a case-by-case basis.
7. Preliminary Reports: Preliminary reports are manuscripts that report data from either clinical or basic science studies which provide new or confirmatory information but are not ready for definitive presentation because reviewers and readers would (1) consider the study incomplete and insufficient to strongly support or disprove a hypothesis and (2) cannot be completed by the submitting investigator due to lack of funding or other practical issues, or change in research focus. Although incomplete, publication of such data is deemed important as they can be utilized for hypotheses, meta-analyses, to guide other investigators interested to delve into similar research areas, and may help avoid duplication of efforts in future studies.
  - To meet criterion (1), studies may lack adequate controls or sample power size to reach conclusions usually necessary to properly interpret the data. The transparency and rigor of the methods must comply to the expectations that apply in all other papers considered for publication in Epilepsia Open (see Author information) also fully apply for preliminary reports. Preliminary reports need to include statements on power analysis and sample size requirements, yet acceptance for publication is not contingent to meeting such power analysis criteria. Inclusion of statements that describe to which extent the recommendations for rigor and transparency in reporting is deemed important so as to reflect the true strength of the reported comparisons and interpret the data correctly.
  - Criterion (2) is essential to avoid publication of preliminary data that will be later incorporated in a more complete study by the same investigator and would therefore result in two publications from the same data pool and hypothesis. Justification of criterion (2) can be done at the submission process, where the authors would state the reasons they were not able or interested in completing the study. Examples include: lack of funding, inability to have continuing access to a resource/expertise, product or population of interest that was essential for the study, change in research direction or priorities.
  - Preliminary reports should be limited to 2400 words (excluding the summary), references as needed, and no more than 3 figures and tables (combined). Please note that the Editors may use their discretion to request that preliminary reports be shortened to a length that they feel is appropriate, and may provide for a larger number of figures and tables if justified.
  - When preliminary studies support, but do not prove, a novel and interesting scientific hypothesis, the authors have the option to submit their study as a Hypothesis article, presenting a hybrid of a targeted critical and concise review of the relevant literature along with the authors’ preliminary data, and discussion. In such cases, the manuscript can be up to 3000 words (excluding the summary), and up to 6 Figures and Tables (combined) may be used. The structure of the article can be as for critical reviews, incorporating the preliminary studies.
  - Manuscripts previously published at preprint servers, and not previously included in a peer reviewed journal, can be submitted to Epilepsia Open for consideration for publication and will follow the regular peer review process.
  - The authors should follow the format of full length or short original research article instructions.
  - Acknowledgment should be added at the end of the manuscript stating that the study (or part of the study) has been previously reported in a preprint server, providing the link or reference.
  - If the article is accepted for publication at Epilepsia Open, the authors are requested to amend a statement at the original preprint server report that “A peer reviewed and revised version of this study has been published at Epilepsia Open,” providing the link to the Epilepsia Open article.
Editorially-reviewed Material (to be submitted by email to the Editors-in-Chief at [email protected], except letters and commentaries which should be submitted online at https://wiley.atyponrex.com/journal/EPI4)

Other contributions that do not report original research will be published at the discretion of the Editors-in-Chief, with only editorial review. Such material includes:

workshop reports and conference summaries (submit under "Meeting Report"), obituaries, letters/commentary to the Editors (500 word limit, figures and/or tables are rarely allowed), special (brief) reports from ILAE Commissions or other working groups, and announcements. Such material will usually be published in Open Matters. Authors may apply for APC waivers or discounts.

Supplements (to be submitted as directed by the Editors-in-Chief)

Supplements, including meeting abstracts, will be published only after advance arrangements are made with the Editors-in-Chief. Guidelines for preparing supplements are given below. Proposal for, and questions about supplements should be directed to one of the Editors-in-Chief ([email protected]). Such proposals must be explicitly approved by the Editors-in-Chief, who will also confirm the page rate charge for the proposed supplement in consultation with the Publisher.

Special Reports

In some cases, special reports from ILAE Commissions or other broadly constituted working groups will be published after peer review. The corresponding author of such papers should confer with the Editors-in-Chief to determine if the full manuscript will be peer- reviewed, or whether only a short version will be considered for publication in Epilepsia Open’s Open Matters (see below). Special reports from ILAE Commissions or Task Force should be adhering to the publication policies of the ILAE, as agreed by the ILAE Publication Council, and should contain the recommended disclosures applicable to the type of the report.

Manuscript Preparation

Epilepsia Open uses free format submissions (see manuscript submission section). The following manuscript preparation guidelines pertain to articles that have been accepted for publication.

General Style Guidelines

Manuscripts are submitted and published in English
- Authors not fluent in English are asked to ensure proper grammar and syntax are used.
- Authors whose primary language is not English are eligible to submit their manuscript professionally edited by a native or fluent English speaker. See Wiley’s editing services here: https://wileyeditingservices.com/en/.
- If professional services are required to improve English language, expenses will be paid for and arranged by the author; use of one of these services does not guarantee acceptance or preference for publication. Authors are responsible for ensuring that the edited manuscript conveys accurately the message and results of the authors.
- Manuscripts that need significant revisions to improve language may be returned to the authors before sending for peer review.
Manuscript format:
- Double spaced manuscript with at least 1 inch margin on all sides using size 12 fonts.
- If symbols are used, confirm that the uploaded document correctly depicts these symbols.
- Word limits for each type of submission will generally be enforced unless there are good reasons not to do so, after approval by the editors.
- If manuscripts exceed these guidelines on word limits, number of tables or figures, authors should submit a cover letter explaining why the additional length is necessary.
- All acronyms and abbreviations should be spelled out at first mention in the text and in each figure legend and table footing, as relevant.
- Spell out all numbers that are used to begin a sentence; use Arabic numerals for numbers and indicate units of measure.
- Confirm usage of the correct names of tests, agencies, organizations.
- Use international non-proprietary (generic) names when referring to drugs; avoid proprietary (brand) names.
- Locations for manufacturers are not required, unless this is important to indicate the source of specialized materials, tools, or animals that may influence the results.
- Decimals should be preceded by periods and not commas (e.g., 9.58).
- Periods or commas should not be used to indicate thousands (e.g.,1000 and not 1.000 or 1,000).

Authors are encouraged to use the most recent terminology of seizures and epilepsy:

1)Beniczky S, Trinka E, Wirrell E, Abdulla F, Al Baradie R, Alonso Vanegas M, et al. Updated classification of epileptic seizures: Position paper of the International League Against Epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2025; (10.1111/epi.18338)

2) Fisher RS, Cross JH, French JA, Higurashi N, Hirsch E, Jansen FE, et al. Operational classification of seizure types by the International League Against Epilepsy: position paper of the ILAE Commission for Classification and Terminology. Epilepsia 2017; 58: 522–30 (10.1111/epi.13670)

3) Fisher RS, Cross JH, D’Souza C, French JA, Haut SR, Higurashi N, et al. Instruction manual for the ILAE 2017 operational classification of seizure types. Epilepsia 2017:58: 531-542. (10.1111/epi.13671)

4) Scheffer IE, Berkovic S, Capovilla G, Connolly MB, French J, Guilhoto L, et al. ILAE classification of the epilepsies: position paper of the ILAE Commission for Classification and Terminology. Epilepsia 2017; 58: 512–21. (10.1111/epi.13709)

5) Berg AT, Berkovic SF, Brodie MJ et al. Revised terminology and concepts for organization of seizures and epilepsies: Report of the ILAE Commission on Classification and Terminology, 2005–2009. Epilepsia 2010;51: 676-85. (10.1111/j.1528-1167.2010.02522.x)

6) Studies involving treatments should adhere to ILAE’s classification of medically refractory epilepsy: Kwan P, Arzimanoglou A, Berg AT et al. Definition of drug resistant epilepsy: consensus proposal by the ad hoc Task Force of the ILAE Commission on Therapeutic Strategies. Epilepsia. 2010;51:1069-7 (10.1111/j.1528-1167.2009.02397.x)

7) Levira F, Thurman DJ, Sander JW, Hauser WA, Hesdorffer DC, Masanja H, et al. Premature mortality of epilepsy in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review from the Mortality Task Force of the International League Against Epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2017;58:6–16. (10.1111/epi.13603)

8) Riney K, Bogacz A, Somerville E et al. International League Against Epilepsy classification and definition of epilepsy syndromes with onset at a variable age: position statement by the ILAE Task Force on Nosology and Definitions. Epilepsia. 2022;63:1443-74. (10.1111/epi.17240)

9) Specchio N, Wirrell EC, Scheffer IE et al. International League Against Epilepsy classification and definition of epilepsy syndromes with onset in childhood: Position paper by the ILAE Task Force on Nosology and Definitions. Epilepsia. 2022;63:1398-442. (10.1111/epi.17241)

10) Hirsch E, French J, Scheffer IE et al. ILAE definition of the Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy Syndromes: Position statement by the ILAE Task Force on Nosology and Definitions. Epilepsia. 2022;63:1475-99. (10.1111/epi.17236)

11) Wirrell EC, Nabbout R, Scheffer IE et al. Methodology for classification and definition of epilepsy syndromes with list of syndromes: Report of the ILAE Task Force on Nosology and Definitions. Epilepsia. 2022;63:1333-48. (10.1111/epi.17237)

12) Zuberi SM, Wirrell E, Yozawitz E et al. ILAE classification and definition of epilepsy syndromes with onset in neonates and infants: Position statement by the ILAE Task Force on Nosology and Definitions. Epilepsia. 2022;63:1349-97. (10.1111/epi.17239)

Plain Language Summaries

As the official open access, online only journal of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), Epilepsia Open is dedicated to making epilepsy research as widely available as possible. As part of the journal’s efforts to make research accessible, authors will now be asked to provide a brief Plain Language Summary along with any research submission (this excludes Editorials, Letters, Replies, and Obituaries). Authors should submit this summary as a brief statement (2-4 sentences, under 100 words total) included at the end of the scientific Abstract. The Plain Language Summary should summarize the key findings of the research in language that persons without a scientific background could understand. Authors are encouraged to use a readability analyzer to evaluate the accessibility of their Plain Language Summary to non-scientists. An article’s Plain Language Summary appears immediately below the Abstract and appears together with the Abstract on Wiley Online Library, as well as in Abstract & Indexing services that cover the journal.

Critical Reviews and Invited Commentaries*

Title Page: (see Full-Length Original Research below)
Summary and Key Words: Reviews and commentaries should generally begin with a summary (less than 300 words) of the content. The summary (unstructured) should provide the reader with the main points of the paper. The Summary should be followed by a list of 3-6 Key Words; please provide Key Words that will assist in the indexing and discoverability of your article. Do not use words already incorporated into your title (those words are picked up automatically by indexing services and search engines). Invited commentaries do not include summaries.
Body of Review: There is no designated structure for the body of Reviews or Commentaries. Authors are encouraged, however, to use sub-headings to separate major sections and to facilitate clarity and to use figures and tables to illustrate the key issues of the document. Tables, figures, figure legends, references, acknowledgments, statement of compliance with the Journal’s guidelines for ethical standards in publishing, disclosure of conflicts of interest, and Supplementary material as for Full Length Original Research (see below)
*Invited Commentaries must be arranged with the editors prior to submission.

Full-Length Original Research, Special Reports, Short Original Research, Multicenter Original Research, and Preliminary Reports
1. Analysis guidelines:
  - Use robust analytic methods when data are skewed.
  - Use Kaplan Meier methods, Cox Proportional Hazards, and mixed models analyses for longitudinal data.
  - Account properly for statistical outliers.
  - Use exact methods as much as possible in analyses of categorical data.
  - Use appropriate correction procedures to account for multiple comparisons, and conduct post-hoc comparisons with statistically appropriate methods.
2. Presentation guidelines:
  - Report means accompanied by standard deviations; standard errors should not be used.
  - Present results with only as much precision as is appropriate.
  - Present confidence intervals, whenever possible, including in figures.
  - Describe quantity of missingness and methods used for handling such missingness.
  - In general, present two-sided p-values. P-values larger than 0.01 should be reported to two decimal places, those between 0.01 and 0.001 to three decimal places, and those smaller than 0.001 should be reported as p<0.001.
  - In reporting clinical trials, include a flow diagram, a completed trial checklist, and trial registration information. The CONSORT flow diagram and checklist are recommended (http://www.consort-statement.org/).
  - Power analysis methods, parameters used to estimate the optimal sample size, and sample size justification should be reported.

Title Page: Include the following information: Full title of the manuscript which generally should be as concise and precise as possible; authors’ names (first and last names, middle initial when commonly used by that author); institutional affiliation for each author (use superscripted numbers after each author’s name, and a corresponding superscripted number before each institutional affiliation; affiliations must be provided in English); contact information for the corresponding author (name, address, telephone number, fax number, e-mail address); Key Words for use by abstracting services (same as following summary); number of text pages; number of words; number of references; number of figures; number of tables.
Summary and Key Words: Provide a summary of no more than 300 words (200 words for Short Research Articles). The summary for Full Length Original Research reports should consist of four sections, labeled: Objective; Methods; Results; Significance. This structured summary should concisely and specifically describe why and how the study was performed, the essential results, and what the authors conclude from the results. To promote brevity, authors may use phrases rather than complete sentences. The summary for Special Reports, Invited Commentaries, and Short Original Research Articles is not structured, but should cover the same topics as the structured summary. The summary (structured or unstructured) should be followed by 3-6 Key Words (see above).
Key Point Box: Include 3 to 5 key bullet points that summarize your article after the main body of text. Please ensure each bullet point is no longer than 140 characters. (A key point box is not needed for Short Research Articles).
Introduction: State the objectives of the study clearly and concisely, and provide a context for the study by referring judiciously to previous work in the area. Do not attempt to present a comprehensive view of the field. Provide a statement about the significance of this research for understanding and/or treating epilepsy.
Methods: Describe the research methods in sufficient detail that the work can be duplicated; alternatively, give references (if they are readily accessible) to previous comprehensive descriptions. Identify the statistical procedures that were used and the rationale for choosing a particular method, especially if it is not standard. Reports of experimental studies on humans must explicitly certify that the research received prior approval by the appropriate institutional review body and that informed consent was obtained from each volunteer or patient. Studies involving animals must include an explicit statement that animal care and use conformed to institutional policies and guidelines. When animals are subjected to invasive procedures, details must be provided regarding the steps taken to eliminate/minimize pain and suffering, including the specific anesthetics, analgesics, or other drugs used for that purpose (amounts, mode of delivery, frequency of administration). If extensive descriptions of methods are needed, provide basic information within the text and submit supplementary information for online Supporting Information.
Results: Results should be reported fully and concisely, in a logical order. Do not repeat methodological details from the Methods section. Where possible, use figures and/or tables to present the data in a clear and concise format. Do not repeat data in the text that are given in a table, but refer to the table. Provide textual explanations for all figures, with clear reference to the figure(s) under discussion. Descriptive information provided in figure legends need not be repeated in the text; use the text, however, to describe key features of the figures. When appropriate, give sample numbers, the range and standard deviation (or mean error) of measurements, and significance values for compared populations.
Discussion: Provide an interpretation of the results and assess their significance in relation to previous work in the field. Do not repeat the results. Do not engage in general discussion beyond the scope of the experimental results. Conclusions should be supported by the data obtained in the reported study; avoid speculation not warranted by experimental results, and label speculation clearly. Discuss the significance of the data for understanding and/or treating epilepsy.
Limitations: The limitations of the study should be discussed concisely. Comments of the reviewers which could not be rectified or addressed should also be included here. In Preliminary Reports, limitations of the study should refer to the technical, funding, or other reasons due to which the study could not be completed, or discuss briefly other limitations that authors may want to raise.
Clinical Relevance or Future Directions: The clinical relevance of the study (if any) should be briefly discussed. For mechanistic, early exploratory or studies that do not have direct clinical implication, the authors should state this and briefly state future directions or ways in which their observations might explain or relate to clinical scenarios. The authors are strongly encouraged to be realistic in their statements and avoid over-interpretations of their findings.
Statistical Methods: The following guidelines assume familiarity with common statistical terminology and methods. We recommend that authors consult a biostatistician during the planning stages of their study with further consultations during the analytical and interpretational stages.
Acknowledgements: Acknowledge sources of support (grants from government agencies, private foundations, etc.); including funds obtained from private industry. Also acknowledge (consistent with requirements of courtesy and disclosure) participation of contributors to the study who are not included in the author list.
Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest: In addition, each author should provide full disclosure of any conflicts of interest. One of the following sentences must be included at the end of the paper: either “Author A has received support from, and/or has served as a paid consultant for .... Author B has received support from .... The remaining authors have no conflicts of interest.” Or “None of the authors has any conflict of interest to disclose.” Note: Disclosure is needed for financial income/payment from commercial sources, the interests of which are relevant to this research activity. Please identify sources from which financial assistance/income was obtained during the period of the research activity and generation of the current report. Grants from government and/or private agencies should be identified in the Acknowledgments section.
Ethical Publication Statement: All papers must include the following statement to indicate that the authors have read the Journal’s position on issues involved in ethical publication (see below) and affirm that their report is consistent with those guidelines: “We confirm that we have read the Journal’s position on issues involved in ethical publication and affirm that this report is consistent with those guidelines.”
References: Authors are responsible for the accuracy of their references. References should follow a modified Vancouver style format. Citation of references in the text should be in superscript numbers (including those in figure legends and tables). Cite the end references in numerical order. The first six authors should be listed and followed by et al. Use journals’ PubMed abbreviations in the reference list at the end of the paper (as opposed to journals’ names being written out in full). Reference program patches are available on the Epilepsia Open Scholar One Manuscripts website (https://wiley.atyponrex.com/journal/EPI4); please click ‘Instructions and Forms’ at the top right-hand corner of the homepage. Number of references is not limited.

Sample References:

Journal Article

Faught E, Szaflarski JP, Richman J, Funkhouser E, Martin RC, Piper K, et al. Risk of pharmacokinetic interactions between antiepileptic and other drugs in older persons and factors associated with risk. Epilepsia 2018;59:715–23.

Journal Article Published Electronically Ahead of inclusion in an issue

Vakharia VN,Sparks R, LiK,O’Keeffe AG, Miserocchi A, McEvoy AW, et al. Automated trajectory planning for laser interstitial thermal therapy in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsia 2018 Mar 12 [Epub ahead of print].

Journal Article In Press

Hirsch LJ, Gaspard N, van Baalen A, Nabbout R, Demeret S, Loddenkemper T, et al. Proposed consensus definitions for new-onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE), febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES) and related conditions. Epilepsia (in press 2018).

Letter

Fisher RS, Acevedo C, Arzimanoglou A, Bogacz A, Cross JH, Elger CE, et al. How long for epilepsy remission in the ILAE definition? Epilepsia 2017;58:1486–7. Letter

Published Abstract

Lamberink HJ, K. Boshuisen K, Otte WM, et al. When to stop antiepileptic drugs after pediatric epilepsy surgery? Presentation of a new prediction tool. Epilepsia 2018. (suppl 3):029.Abstract.

Book

Arzimanoglou A, Cross JH, Gaillard WD, Holthausen H, Jayakar P, Kahane P,et al. Pediatric epilepsy surgery. Montrouge: John Libbey Eurotext; 2017.

Chapter in a Book

Noebels JL. Spontaneous and gene-directed epilepsy mutations in the mouse. In Pitkänen A, Buckmaster PS, Galanopoulou AS, Moshé S (Eds) Models of seizures and epilepsy. 2nd Ed. London: Academic Press, 2017:763–76.

Online

NationalInstitutesofHealth.NIHCommonDataElement(CDE)ResourcePortal,2013.https://www.nlm.nih.gov/cde/glossary.html#cdedefinition. Accessed November 21, 2017.

Figure legends: Figure legends should be included at the end of the main text document. Number each legend sequentially to conform to the figure number (e.g., Figure1, Figure 2...). The legend should provide a brief description of the figure, with explanation of all symbols and abbreviations. Written permission to use non-original material must be obtained (from the original authors (where possible) and publishers) by the authors. Credit for previously published material (author(s), date, journal/book title, and publisher) must be included in the legend.
Tables: Tables should be formatted as the authors wish the table to appear. Present all tables together at the end of the manuscript. Do not embed tables in the main text file. Each table should be given a number and a descriptive title. Provide notes and explanations of abbreviations below the table, and provide clear headings for each column and row. Do not duplicate data given in the text and/or in figures. Written permission to use non-original material must be obtained (from the original authors (where possible) and publishers) by the authors. Credit for previously published material(author(s), date, journal/book title, and publisher) must be included in the table notes. If the information being presented has very specific formatting requirements (e.g., a checklist), please submit this as a figure (a PDF is acceptable), rather than a table, to ensure the formatting is retained.
Figures: All figures should be prepared with care and professionalism. Submissions that do not comply with the following formatting requirements will be returned for correction and re-submission.

Figures should be submitted as TIFF files in the size expected for final publication– approximately 3 inches (7-8 cm) for half column and 6 to 7 inches (15-17 cm) for double columns.
Submit figures as separate image files and do not embed figures in the main text file.
Submit black and white figures with a minimum of 300 dpi (MRI scans) and for line drawings or figures that included embedded text (bar graphs with numbers) at least 600 dpi.
Complex figures (including photographs, micrographs, and MR-related images), either in color, in half-tones, or in black and white, should also be submitted in TIF format with a resolution of at least 600 dpi.
We strongly encourage authors to generate figures in color (to enhance clarity of presentation and aesthetic appeal). Colors that allow clear distinction of the different groups and classification are strongly recommended.
The Epilepsia Open color palette is preferred but not mandatory. If authors opt for a different palette, it is recommended to use a colorblind-friendly palette.
We recommend saving the TIF files with LZW compression (an option when you ‘save as’ in packages like Photoshop), which will make the files smaller and quicker to upload without reducing the resolution/quality.
Save each TIF file with a name that includes the first author’s last name and the figure number as referenced in the text (e.g.,Smith-fig1.tif).
Provide clear labels on the ordinate and abscissa.
Figures with more than one part should be combined by the authors in the correct orientation and labeled with A, B, C etc.
When relevant, include calibration information.
All labels in the figures should use Calibri font and be sure that all labels are large enough to be clearly legible when the figure is reduced to fit onto a journal page.
Figure legends should include a figure heading and clearly describe the figure components. Sample sizes per group should be clearly written. Acronyms / abbreviations used in figures should be explained.
The maximum size of any figure is 7 x 9 in (17 x 22.5 cm) and 150 mega pixels; the total number of pixels for each figure (i.e., height x width) must be less than 150 megapixels otherwise the image will not convert to PDF for review.
Photographs or videos of patients should not reveal patient identity; masking eyes and/or other identifiers is compulsory unless the eyes are essential to the meaning of the photograph or video.
In addition, such photographs and videos must be accompanied by a letter saying that signed consent forms authorizing publication have been obtained for all identifiable patients, and that the consents will be maintained by the author for seven years or until the patient reaches 21 years of age, whichever is longer.
Do not send Epilepsia Open the consent forms; U.S. Federal privacy rules prohibit sending signed consent forms to Epilepsia Open or Wiley Publishing without written permission from the patient to do so.
A sample signed consent form can be found on the Epilepsia Open Scholar One Manuscripts website (https://wiley.atyponrex.com/journal/EPI4); click ‘Instructions and Forms’ at the top right-hand corner of the homepage.

Supporting Information: Supporting information can be submitted for review. Such material may include: additional figures, large tables, videos, etc. that cannot be accommodated within the normal space allocation for an article–but provide important complementary information for the reader. As determined by the reviewers and Editors, supporting information will be posted on the Wiley Online Library Epilepsia Open server and directly integrated into the full-text HTML and pdf article. Explicit reference to the supporting information in the main body of the text of the article is recommended, and the material must be captioned at the foot of the text, below the reference list. Citations should be in the following format: Figure S1, Table S1, Appendix S1, etc. Supporting information will be peer-reviewed by the reviewers and editors. The final accepted form of the Supporting information will be published as submitted and will not be corrected or checked for scientific content, typographical errors or functionality. Although hosted on Wiley Online Library, the responsibility for scientific accuracy and file functionality remains entirely with the authors. A disclaimer will be displayed to this effect with any supporting information published.
Supporting Information files should be accompanied by detailed information (if relevant) about what they are and how they were created (e.g., a native dataset from a specific piece of apparatus).

Acceptable formats for supporting information include:
- General- Standard MS Office format (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, Access, etc.); PDF
- Graphics- GIF; TIF (or TIFF); EPS; PNG; JPG (or JPEG); BMP; PS (postscript); embedded graphics(e.g. a GIF pasted into a Word file) are also acceptable.
- Video- Quick Time; MPEG; AVI. All video clips must be created with commonly-used codecs, and the codec used should be noted in the supplementary material legend. Video files should be tested for playback before submission, preferably on computers not used for its creation, to check for any compatibility issues. Video clips are likely to be large; try to limit their size to less than 150 MB.

Concepts and Hypotheses

Text
The format should follow the format for critical reviews and commentaries. If preliminary data are included, it is anticipated that authors should follow the reporting expectations described in the Preliminary Report articles (section b), including statement of goal, methods, results, statistical analysis, discussion of data, limitations and clinical relevance.

Open Matters

Title: Letters, workshop reports, etc. should be given a brief title. Letters should start with the opening “To the Editors:”
Authors and Affiliations: Provide authors’ names (first and last names, middle initial when commonly used by that author); institutional affiliation for each author (use superscripted numbers after each author’s name, and a corresponding superscripted number for each institutional affiliation); e-mail contact address for the corresponding author.
Body of submission: Letters and commentaries should be restricted to 500 words or less, unless otherwise allowed by the Editors. Figures and tables will be included only in exceptional cases. Open Matters will not be used to publish case reports. Tables, figures, figure legends, references, acknowledgments, disclosure of conflicts of interest, ethical publication statement and Supporting Information–as for Full Length Original Research (see above).

Details of Preparation

Text
Manuscripts should be prepared using a word processing program. Save text and tables as a Microsoft Word document. Place the lead author’s name and the page number in the upper right hand corner of each page. Begin numbering with the Title Page as #1, and number pages consecutively including references, figure legends, and tables. Text (including acknowledgments, disclosure statement, and figure legends) and references should be double-spaced, and be composed in 12 point font (preferably Times New Roman). When generating a revised manuscript, identify the altered portions of the manuscript with track changes, highlighted text, underlined, colored or bold font to indicate where changes to the original version of the text have been made.
Tables, Figures, Supporting Information
See above.

Manuscript Submission

Online submission via Manuscript Central
Online submission via Manuscript Central Manuscripts should be submitted via the Journal’s website on Scholar One Manuscripts at https://wiley.atyponrex.com/journal/EPI4. Instructions at the site will guide the author through the submission process. Separate files should be submitted for: Cover letter to editors, manuscript text, tables, each figure, supplemental material, permissions to use previously published material, patient consent declaration.
Free Format
Epilepsia Open now offers Free Format submission for a simplified and streamlined submission process.

Before you submit, you will need:
- Your manuscript: this should be an editable file including text, figures, and tables, or separate files—whichever you prefer. All required sections should be contained in your manuscript, including abstract, introduction, methods, results, conclusions, disclosures, acknowledgements, statement on adherence to journal’s ethical conduct and ethics approval of research, references. Figures and tables should have legends. Figures should be uploaded in the highest resolution possible. References may be submitted in any style or format, as long as it is consistent throughout the manuscript and references are clearly cited in the text. Supporting information should be submitted in separate files. If the manuscript, figures or tables are difficult for you to read, they will also be difficult for the editors and reviewers, and the editorial office will send it back to you for revision. Your manuscript may also be sent back to you for revision if the quality of English language is poor.
- An ORCID ID, freely available at https://orcid.org. (Why is this important? Your article, if accepted and published, will be attached to your ORCID profile. Institutions and funders are increasingly requiring authors to have ORCID IDs.) Note that ORCID IDs are only mandatory for first and senior authors.
- The title page of the manuscript, including:
  - Your co-author details, including affiliation and email address. (Why is this important? We need to keep all co-authors informed of the outcome of the peer review process.)
  - Statements relating to our ethics and integrity policies, which may include any of the following (Why are these important? We need to uphold rigorous ethical standards for the research we consider for publication):
    - data availability statement
    - funding statement
    - conflict of interest disclosure
    - ethics approval statement
    - patient consent statement
    - permission to reproduce material from other sources
    - clinical trial registration
- Cover letter: All manuscripts should be submitted with a cover letter, addressed to the Editors-in-Chief, which explains why the manuscript should be published in Epilepsia Open and specify the type of article format they prefer. In particular, authors should identify novel findings, innovative approaches, and important insights that would make the manuscript of particular value to the broad readership of Epilepsia Open. For Preliminary Reports, the authors should specify the reasons why the study could not be completed. List of recommended and non-recommended reviewers should not be included in the cover letter, since these will be available to the reviewers. Such preferences should be specified in the relevant section of the submission site, where names and contact information of the reviewers will be inserted. Requests for waivers from the APC should also be placed in the cover letter, along with the justification.
- Text, table and figure files: All files should be given a label that includes the first author’s last name and the nature of the file (e.g., Smith-manuscripttext.doc; Smith-Fig1.tif).
- Other materials/forms: At the time of submission, all other materials (e.g., permission forms, supplemental material, patient consent) must be uploaded onto Research Exchange.
Questions/Contacts
Questions and request for assistance should be addressed to the Journal at [email protected]. The Managing Editor, Ms. Laurie Beninsig will in most cases be able to provide direction, or will contact the Editors-in-Chief for further assistance.
Publication Fees
For a listing of publication fees go to /page/journal/24709239/homepage/article_publication_charges.htm
- Submit or confirm your submission at https://wiley.atyponrex.com/journal/EPI4
- Upon submission, a confirmation email will be sent. Submission is free.
- After peer review and acceptance, you will be prompted to sign the Open Access Agreement form.
- Payment of the article publication charge is then required. Epilepsia Open offers an APC waiver or discount to authors based in developing countries: Wiley Open Access Waiver and Discount Country List. You can then track the progress of your article through Wiley Author Services.
- You will receive notification that your proof is ready for review, and be able to make corrections to your article.
- Your article will publish on Wiley Online Library. If you have previously signed up for alerts through Wiley’s Author Services, you will be sent an email when your article is published online.
Open Access Agreement
If your paper is accepted, the author whom you identify as being the corresponding author for the paper will be presented with the option to sign an open access agreement (on behalf of all co-authors). All Epilepsia Open articles are published under a Creative Commons License. All Research Councils UK (RCUK) and Wellcome Trust funded authors will be directed to the Creative Commons Attribution license (CC BY) in accordance with funder mandates effective on 1 April 2013. All other authors (non-RCUK and Wellcome Trust authors) will use the Attribution-Non-Commercial-NoDerivs (CC BY NC ND).

The open access agreement is administered electronically. The author identified as the formal corresponding author for the paper will receive an email prompting them to login into Author Services, where, via the Wiley Author Licensing Service (WALS) they will be able to complete the license agreement on behalf of all authors on the paper.
Integrity Check
Please note that if accepted, your manuscript will undergo an integrity check, including the images and data submitted. Publication will only proceed on the condition that all final files comply with the journal integrity checks. In the event that any file does not comply with our integrity checks, the journal reserves the right to rescind this decision, or, alternatively, you may be contacted to resolve any concerns raised by these checks.

Manuscript Publication

All authors of accepted manuscripts are welcome to submit ideas for the cover. In addition, the Editors may approach authors to provide one or two of their figures as possible cover material for the journal. These figures will need to be large enough and with the appropriate dpi (300 dpi minimum). Epilepsia Open accepts submission of a figure or other illustration from your accepted article for possible inclusion on the journal cover. Selection of submitted figures is solely at the Editors’ discretion.
Online Tracking of Your Article
Online production tracking of your article is available through Wiley’s Author Services. Author Services enables authors to track their article once it has been accepted through the production process to publication online. Authors can check the status of their articles online and choose to receive automated e-mails at key stages of production. The corresponding author will receive an e-mail with a unique link that enables him/ her to register and have the article automatically added to the system. To facilitate this service, please ensure that you provide a complete e-mail address when submitting the manuscript. Visit Wiley’s Author Services (http://authorservices.wiley.com/bauthor/) for more details on online production tracking and for other publication resources (including FAQs and tips on article preparation, submission and more).
Proofs
Authors will receive an e-mail notification with a link and instructions for accessing HTML page proofs online. Page proofs should be carefully proofread for any typesetting errors. Online guidelines are provided within the system. No special software is required, all common browsers are supported. Authors should also make sure that any renumbered tables, figures, or references match text citations and that figure legends correspond with text citations and actual figures. Proofs must be returned within 48 hours of receipt of the email. Return of proofs via e-mail is possible in the event that the online system cannot be used or accessed. hours of receipt of the email. Return of proofs via e-mail is possible in the event that the online system cannot be used or accessed. The proof corrections stage is not the time for fine-tuning language or making any other substantive changes. Confine corrections to errors in typesetting; authors may be charged for major author-initiated changes.
Early View
Articles appear online, using the final manuscript documents that the authors have provided. The publication-ready PDF of an article will be published online subsequently as a PDF version of the typeset article. Early View publication will precede issue publication by a variable time period. The Early View publication date will be considered the official publication date and can be cited by DOI number. In general, manuscripts will be published on Early View within 20 days of the publisher’s receipt of the complete manuscript (including licensing and payment forms).

Supplement Publication

Policy
A decision to publish a supplement is based on the topic, Guest Editor, proposed table of contents and contributing authors, and availability of necessary funding. Supplement topics must be of importance to Epilepsia Open readers, and supplements will be published only if there is scientific or educational rationale for combining papers on a given theme within one publication. The number and quality of the articles must be sufficient to constitute a body of important information. Each supplement will have a Guest Editor who is an expert on the theme of the supplement. The Guest Editor is responsible for compiling articles and assisting with the editorial process, and is responsible for the overall quality and integrity of the supplement. The publication of a supplement usually incurs charges, payable to Wiley Publishing.
Publishing Guidelines
Articles in a supplement are subject to the same copyright regulations and ethical publishing guidelines that apply to articles published in regular issues of Epilepsia Open. All supplement articles are peer-reviewed; the first level of review is carried out by the Guest Editor and his/her designates. The second level of review will include the articles being sent out for peer review.
Supplement Content
The content of supplements must not be biased in the interest of any sponsor. Epilepsia Open does not permit presentations that extol a commercial product, and supplements should not be perceived as endorsing a particular product. Publication of supplements does not constitute product or sponsor endorsement by Epilepsia Open or ILAE. In most cases, supplements should not focus on a single product; however, when a new product is introduced, a single product focus will be considered by the Editors-in-Chief. In all cases, the content of a supplement must be determined by a body of professionals working independently of the sponsor. The Guest Editor is charged with assuring that the material presented in the supplement is not biased toward the interests of the product manufacturer.
Supplement Sponsorship
Most supplements require external sponsorship. When a supplement proposal is presented to the Editors-in-Chief, they will fix appropriate fees in consultation with the Publisher. Supplement costs may be negotiated with the Editors-in-Chief and the Publisher’s supplement representative. The Editors-in-Chief may choose to publish a supplement of particular academic and clinical value without external sponsorship.
Instructions for Submitting Supplements
Agreement to publish a supplement must be obtained from the Editors-in-Chief prior to submission. Proposals for supplements should be submitted to the Editors-in-Chief ([email protected]) well in advance of the desired publication date, so that the proposal can be evaluated and discussed. Timing is especially critical if the supplement is linked to a symposium or congress, since rapid publication is often important to assure that the information is current. The proposals should identify the Guest Editor and include a list of topics and potential authors. The proposal should include an estimate of supplement length so that the Editors-in-Chief and Publisher can provide reasonable information about the cost of publication. Collection of manuscripts, as well as initial editing and reviewing should be carried out by the Guest Editor on a schedule predetermined in discussion with the Editors-in-Chief after a letter of agreement is signed with the Publisher. The Guest Editor is responsible for timely submission of articles, and should expect to assist the Editors-in-Chief in collecting final revised manuscripts (including any required permissions).
Format of Supplement Articles
In general, articles should follow the format described above for Critical Reviews (in regular issues of the Journal). Contact the Editors-in-Chief for additional information and special instructions.

Epilepsia Open's Position on Issues Involved in Ethical Publication

Authorship/Credit
Epilepsia Open follows the guidelines of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors regarding criteria for authorship (http://www.icmje.org/). The author list should include those who have made substantial intellectual/conceptual contributions to the work. Such contributions should include participation in: (a) experimental design, data acquisition, and analysis and interpretation of data; (b) drafting and/or critically revising the article with respect to intellectual content; and (c) final approval of the manuscript version to be published. We strongly discourage the inclusion of “honorary” authors (individuals who are listed as authors but have not contributed to the work/manuscript - e.g., heads of departments) and “ghost” authorship (individuals who have substantively contributed to the work and/or manuscript but are not listed as authors or contributors). In cases where writing support is necessary, the writer(s) should be acknowledged in the Acknowledgments section, and the source of funding for writing support should be provided under Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest. The corresponding/submitting author must, when submitting a manuscript, give assurance that all authors have read and approved the submitted manuscript. The corresponding/submitting author should also give assurance that all authors have seen and approved the final (accepted) manuscript, and that the manuscript includes all conflict of interest declarations. All individuals who have contributed to the work but do not meet criteria for authorship should be cited in the Acknowledgment section.
Funding
Sources of funding (for the research, data analysis, and manuscript generation) should always be disclosed in the Acknowledgments section. Sources may include government funding agencies, institutions and departments, private industry, and charitable organizations and foundations. Funding for all authors should be acknowledged.
Procedures involving Human and Animal Subjects
The authors should include within the manuscript an explicit statement indicating that the submitted study was approved by the relevant research ethics committee or institutional review board (IRB). When the study involves human participants (including material from human subjects), authors should also provide assurance that appropriate consent was obtained. When studies involve animal sub- jects, authors should provide methodological details about steps taken to minimize pain/discomfort. Such papers must contain a statement that affirms that the experimental protocols were approved by the institutional animal care and use committee (IACUC).
Confidentiality
In all cases, information and images derived from individual patients must be presented with assurance of appropriate consent and with details removed that might reveal identity of the individual.
Disclosure
All authors are required to disclose associations which might affect their ability to present and/ or interpret data objectively, particularly financial ties to funding sources for the work under review (e.g., membership on corporate scientific boards, stock ownership, consultant arrangements, patent ownership or application, etc.). Disclosure of such associations for the Editorial personnel of Epilepsia Open (Editors-in-Chief, Associate Editors, Editorial Board members) will be published each year. Reviewers will also be asked to affirm that they have no conflict of interest when critiquing a manuscript.
Research Misconduct (Data Fabrication/Falsification)
Epilepsia Open will attempt to ensure that any allegations of misconduct are properly investigated. In the case of any allegations, authors will be given a right to respond. While the Journal is limited in its ability to investigate misconduct, we will seek COPE’s advice and alert appropriate bodies and encourage them to investigate.
Plagiarism, Duplication, and Redundant Publication
Epilepsia Open requires that work submitted for publication is the authors’ own work and has not been misappropriated. When previously published material is used, appropriate credit must be given and written permission obtained (for use of copyrighted material). Epilepsia Open also explicitly discourages duplication of published material and redundant publication. All manuscripts submitted to Epilepsia Open are checked with the iThenticate software to detect instances of overlapping and similar text. In the case of apparent or substantial overlap, authors will be asked to rewrite their article.
Corrections of Erroneous Information
Authors are expected to proof-read their articles carefully before returning page proofs for publication. They should make needed corrections at this time. We recognize that it is only human to err occasionally, and the is committed to correcting mistakes when those errors affect the interpretation of data or information presented in an article. Such corrections will be published in the form of an Erratum, and linked to the original article electronically. Errors that result from author oversight in the proofing process, and that do not affect data interpretation, will not be corrected.
Peer Review
Epilepsia Open is committed to a peer-review system that is fair to the author and enhances the value of the articles published in the journal. In order to encourage qualified reviewers to offer their time and efforts to the journal, reviewer identity is kept confidential. Reviewers are chosen for their expertise in the field; conflicts of interest are avoided whenever the Editors are aware of such issues, and reviewers are asked to affirm that they have no conflicts of interest in reviewing a given Epilepsia Open manuscript. Authors are encouraged to identify specific individuals who, they believe, cannot provide unbiased review. While the Editors-in-Chief reserve the right to make the final decision to accept or reject an article, appeals will be seriously considered. Address appeals to the Editors-in-Chief, who will examine the reviews and the author responses, consult the relevant Associate Editor, and seek additional reviewer input if deemed necessary.

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