Data Archiving Permissions

Transparent data practices that protect participants and support reproducibility.

Journal of Depression and Therapy supports transparent data practices that enable verification and reuse while protecting participant privacy. Authors should plan data sharing early and include clear data availability statements.

Data archiving improves reproducibility, strengthens peer review, and increases the impact of mental health research.

• Select a trusted repository for datasets or instruments
• Provide accession numbers or DOI links in the manuscript
• Include a data dictionary and variable definitions
• Document preprocessing and quality control steps
• Describe software required to open files
• State whether data are open, restricted, or available on request
• De-identify patient information and follow consent terms
• Specify licensing or reuse permissions
• Link related datasets from multi-site studies
• Provide contact details for data queries

Depression research often includes sensitive clinical data. Authors must follow institutional review board guidance, protect participant privacy, and describe any access restrictions clearly.

• Use de-identification or anonymization before sharing
• Describe controlled access procedures for restricted data
• Provide consent language for secondary use
• Explain how data sharing aligns with legal or ethical requirements

If you need help selecting repositories or drafting statements, contact [email protected] for guidance.