Journal profile · Clinical Neurology
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
ISSN 0885-3924 · eISSN 1873-6513 · Elsevier Inc. · UNITED STATES · Monthly · Founded 1986
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management: CAS Zone 2 · Medicine (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 3.91; hybrid open access; APC about USD 4,760; median 94 days to acceptance (124 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: fairly easy; 793 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management is published by Elsevier Inc. and is in Zone 2 of Medicine in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues, Pain Management and Opioid Use and Childhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life, together about 45.1% of its articles. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Advancing Palliative Care, Hospice, and Symptom ResearchOfficial Journal of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and the National Alliance for Care at Home The Journal of Pain and Symptom Management is an internationally respected, peer-reviewed journal and serves an interdisciplinary audience of professionals by providing a forum for the publication of the latest clinical research and best practices related to the relief of illness burden among patients afflicted with serious or life-threatening illness.The Journal has strongly supported both quantitative and qualitative research underpinning the evolving discipline of palliative care, including clinical trials of pain or symptom control therapies, epidemiology of phenomena related to life-threatening disease and end-of-life care, instrument development to enhance clinical assessment and facilitate investigation, and health services studies evaluating the outcomes of diverse therapeutic models. It also offers extensive coverage of clinical practice issues, publishing both systematic and narrative reviews, case series and case reports, and both special articles and columns that present important updates on topics as varied as the international diversity of palliative medicine, the economics of palliative care, and bioethics in end-of-life care.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Clinical Neurology
Editor-in-chief David J. CasarettPublisher website
Editorial board by country: none in mainland China; most named United States 80, Japan 5, United Kingdom 4, Australia 3, Taiwan, China 2 (105 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Palliative Care and End-of-Life IssuesMedicine28.9%
- Pain Management and Opioid UseMedicine9.3%
- Childhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of LifeMedicine7%
- Cancer survivorship and careMedicine6.8%
- Grief, Bereavement, and Mental HealthPsychology3.9%
- Ethics in medical practiceHealth Professions3.8%
- Pediatric Pain Management TechniquesMedicine3.7%
- Family and Patient Care in Intensive Care UnitsHealth Professions3.3%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Medicine Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Clinical Neurology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Health Care Sciences & Services | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Medicine, General & Internal | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Medicine Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Health Care Sciences & Services | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Medicine, General & Internal | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Clinical Neurology | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Medicine Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Clinical Neurology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Health Care Sciences & Services | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Medicine, General & Internal | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
Index MedicusPublisher website
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 3.91LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 4Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 6.1LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 6.1Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 1.29LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.67LetPub ·
- h-index
- 129LetPub ·
- h-index
- 214OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 5,009OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 1.03OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 7.5%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 19.51%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 207LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 15,711 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 865 | 466 | 51 |
| 2025 | 793 | 150 | 718 |
| 2024 | 818 | 666 | 1,777 |
| 2023 | 700 | 685 | 2,484 |
| 2022 | 754 | 753 | 3,631 |
| 2021 | 432 | 430 | 5,823 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with PubMed · to
94 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 59 days – 123 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 8 days (124 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 103 days
- Sample
- 124 articles with submission and acceptance dates (678 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- 3–8 weeksLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- Fairly easyLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 6 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 46 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 92 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 8 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single-anonymous peer reviewPublisher website · model-extracted
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 4,760 / EUR 4,450 / GBP 3,810 / JPY 590,380 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 4,760 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
Open calls for papers1, by deadline
- Quality Improvement: InnovationsDeadline
What to prepare7 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 3,500 words
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
- Highlights
- Optional
- Graphical abstract
- Optional
- Cover letter
- Required
Article types accepted5, with length limits
- brief reportThe Journal of Pain and Symptom Management publishes the following types of articles:Note: JPSM publishes descriptions of original research findings in multiple…main text ≤ 2,500 words
- letteral. The maximum length for all types of Letters is 1250 words (not including references); no more than 10 references andmain text ≤ 1,250 words
- original articleThe Journal of Pain and Symptom Management publishes the following types of articles:Note: JPSM publishes descriptions of original research findings in multiple…main text ≤ 3,500 words
- original researchThe Journal of Pain and Symptom Management publishes the following types of articles:Note: JPSM publishes descriptions of original research findings in multiple…Length not stated
- reviewable guideline. The maximum length of a Review is 7000 words and an Abstract is required (see below). Special Articles amain text ≤ 7,000 words
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints, Trial registration / reporting guidelines
- AI use Declaration of generative AI in scientific writing
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship
Maximum 6 key words required after abstract, using American spelling, avoiding general/plural terms and multiple concepts. Model summary
Immediately after the abstract, please provide a maximum of 6 key words, using American spelling and avoiding general and plural terms and multiple concepts (avoid, for example, 'and', 'of').
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Conflict of interest
A competing interests statement must be provided, even if authors have none to declare. Model summary
All authors MUST disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence (bias) their work. Examples of potential conflicts of interest include employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, paid expert testimony, patent applications/registrations, and grants or other funding. A conflict of interest form is integrated into t…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability
Funding sources must be listed in a standard format; if no funding, include a standard statement. Model summary
List funding sources in this standard way to facilitate compliance to funder's requirements
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics
Guidance principles for treatment of race and racial disparities in submitted manuscripts (race clearly defined, rationale stated, address systemic racism, avoid genetic arguments, use Critical Race Theory or equivalent construct). Model summary
In an effort to critically review the Journal's standards and practices, we are implementing the following guidance principles for the treatment of race and racial disparities in manuscripts that are submitted for consideration
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright
Copyright: authors complete a Journal Publishing Agreement upon acceptance. Model summary
Upon acceptance of an article, authors will be asked to complete a 'Journal Publishing Agreement' (see more information on this). An e-mail will be sent to the corresponding author confirming receipt of the manuscript together with a 'Journal Publishing Agreement' form or a link to the online version of this agreement.Subscribers may reproduce tables of contents or prepare lists of articles includ…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
Submissions via web-based online manuscript submission and review system at Editorial Manager (https://www.editorialmanager.com/JPSM/default.aspx). Model summary
Please visit our Open Access page for more information about open access publishing in this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer Review
Peer review: initial editorial review; selected manuscripts sent for external peer review; reviewers are not blinded as to the author's identity (single-blind). Model summary
Manuscripts submitted to the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management undergo initial editorial review. Selected manuscripts are sent for external peer review. Note that reviewers are not blinded as to the author's identity.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprint references
Where a preprint has subsequently become available as a peer-reviewed publication, the formal publication should be used as the reference. If there are preprints that are central to your work or that cover crucial developments in the topic, but are not yet formally published, these may be referenced. Preprints should be clearly marked as such, for example by including the word preprint, or the nam…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Trial registration / reporting guidelines Clinical Trial Registration
Clinical trials must be registered at an accepted online repository before enrollment. Model summary
JPSM requires that human clinical trials are registered before enrollment in order for the results to be published in the journal. Most Phase II and Phase III trials should be registered at either the National Institute of Health site at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov, the International Standard Randomized Controlled Trials site at http://www.controlled-trials.com, or an equivalent national site fo…
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Elsevier Inc.
- Country or region
- UNITED STATES
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Founded
- 1986
- ISSN
- 0885-3924
- Electronic ISSN
- 1873-6513
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
What CAS zone is Journal of Pain and Symptom Management in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Journal of Pain and Symptom Management is in Zone 2 of Medicine, and in Zone 2 of the minor category Clinical Neurology / Health Care Sciences & Services / Medicine, General & Internal. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 2 of Medicine. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Journal of Pain and Symptom Management?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 3.91; CiteScore 6.1, h-index 214.
How long does peer review take at Journal of Pain and Symptom Management?
Based on the dates recorded on 124 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 94 days (interquartile range 59–123 days); authors report an average review time of 3–8 weeks; the community-reported acceptance is “Fairly easy”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Journal of Pain and Symptom Management?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Manuscript length: ≤ 3,500 words; Reference style: Numbered, in order of citation; Suggested reviewers: Optional; Highlights: Optional; Graphical abstract: Optional; Cover letter: Required. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Journal of Pain and Symptom Management based?
Of the 105 board members whose country the journal's board page names, none are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (80), Japan (5) and United Kingdom (4). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Journal of Pain and Symptom Management?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Journal of Pain and Symptom Management is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Journal of Pain and Symptom Management open access, and what is the APC?
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 4,760.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-26). Last updated: .