Call for Papers

For all AJOT articles, the goal is to provide high-quality research for use by occupational therapy practitioners and researchers as well as consumers, insurers, and other health care professionals. Articles that are relevant to audiences beyond occupational therapy will be given greater consideration.

From time to time, AJOT publishes special issues on topics of interest. Authors considering a submission for a special issue should first contact the issue guest editor. All manuscripts should be submitted through the AJOT manuscript processing system, and authors should specify in their cover letter that the manuscript is intended for publication in the desired special issue. Submitted manuscripts will be peer reviewed and must conform to the criteria specified in the current “Guidelines for Contributors to AJOT” (available on the AJOT and manuscript submission websites).

General questions about submission should be directed to ajotproduction@aota.org.

Current calls for papers are listed below.

Special Issue: Recovery of Veterans and Those Experiencing War-Related Risks

Guest Editors: Adam R. Kinney, PhD, OTR/L; Alison M. Cogan, PhD, OTR/L; Tonya Rich, PhD, OTR/L; Heidi Cramm, PhD, OTR/L

Occupational therapy plays a critical role in the rehabilitation and recovery of active-duty service members and Veterans, their families/caregivers, and civilians who are affected by war-related risk exposure. Occupational therapy addresses the challenges that arise from exposure to war-related experiences (which tend to produce adverse health outcomes, including physical injuries, mental health conditions, or both), with the goal of helping individuals regain, maintain, or improve their ability to perform everyday activities. This special issue of the American Journal of Occupational Therapy (AJOT) will focus specifically on the role of occupational therapy in addressing the unique needs of active-duty service members and Veterans, their families/caregivers, and civilians with war-related risk exposures, including combat experiences and/or military health exposures. Papers should explore the contributions of occupational therapy in promoting recovery, resilience, and adaptation in various settings. We seek submissions based on empirical studies (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods), systematic reviews, or meta-analyses that can inform occupational therapy practice, education, research, or policymaking. This issue aims to deepen understanding, share effective practices, and guide advancements in the field. Submissions should align with the special issue’s focus and may address topics such as:

• The impact of war-related risk exposure (e.g., combat experiences, military health exposure) on physical, cognitive, and emotional functioning
• Interventions that support recovery, wellness, and adaptation
• Innovations in occupational therapy practice for active-duty service members and Veterans, their families/caregivers, and civilians
• Strategies for addressing mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• The role of occupational therapy in multidisciplinary care for active-duty service members and Veterans and/or individuals with polytrauma, which is defined as a condition in which a single incident produces injuries to two or more bodily structures or systems (e.g., traumatic brain injury and PTSD)
• Policies and programs that impact access to beneficial occupational therapy services for active-duty service members and Veterans, their families/caregivers, and civilians
• Understanding personal, social, and community factors contributing to recovery, resilience, and adaptation in various settings

Authors considering a submission should first contact Adam Kinney (Adam.Kinney@va.gov) to discuss their interest. Please include a tentative title and short description (up to 500 words) of your proposed paper, including Background, Objective, Methods, Results, and implications for occupational therapy research or practice. Submitted manuscripts will be peer reviewed and must conform to the criteria specified in the Guidelines for Contributors to AJOT (available on the AJOT website, https://ajot.aota.org/). Papers will be reviewed and accepted or rejected based on the merit of the paper and the fit with the special issue focus. We encourage early submission. Papers will be evaluated in the order they are received.

Download a flyer to share with colleagues.

Deadline for submission: July 1, 2025

The issue is tentatively scheduled for March/April 2026.