Abstract
Multiple Sclerosis Journal continues to expand its means of providing its readers not only with original studies covering a wide spectrum of topics relevant to understanding MS and management of patients, but also overviews and perspectives of such topics. In this regard, we have recently initiated our “Topical Reviews” and “Controversies in MS” features. We also use invited editorials as a means of highlighting significant issues within papers. We have long encouraged our readers to respond to publications in the journal through correspondence (the letters section of the journal). We also recognize that significant MS-related studies are published in other journals and that these may raise questions and concerns amongst our readers. When we receive a contribution that addresses issues which we feel would be of general interest, the editors are prepared to consider having these published either as letters or rarely as special commentaries or personal viewpoints. These contributions express the views of the authors although all material is reviewed by the editors.
The current issue of the journal features such a contribution by Drs Goodin and Reder, raising their concerns about how committees assign evidence-based ratings of therapeutic trial outcome studies. Since the Goodin/Reder commentary specifically involves a committee of the AAN, we have invited the AAN to review the material in advance of publication and respond, which they have duly done. We look forward to our readers’ responses both to our overall plan to include such contributions in our journal and to the specific issues raised by the current commentary.
Finally, we have introduced a new occasional section entitled Future Perspectives. The rationale behind this it that it will help to capture the work of groups established to improve or update areas of fundamental importance to MS such as clinical and imaging outcomes, progression and treatment approaches. It is hoped that this will raise awareness while at the same time keep everyone up-to-date on what is likely to be coming through the pipeline