Abstract submission guidance 2026

Posters are displayed at Congress electronically on screens at the venue in our ePoster Hub.

Posters are a visual summary of research that presents key aims, methods, findings and conclusions in a clear and accessible format.

At the submission stage, you are only required to provide an abstract summarising your research. You do not need to create the poster itself. If your abstract is accepted, you will then be invited to produce and upload your full digital poster via an online platform before the Congress.

Effective posters use concise text, a logical structure, and clear visuals to communicate core messages without relying on tables, appendices or extensive references.

• Posters will be displayed electronically on screens at the 2026 Congress, no printed posters are required.
• Only named authors are permitted to present
• At least one named author (ideally the presenting author) must register and pay to attend at least one day of Congress for the poster to be displayed
• The scientific committee reserves the right to reject any submission

• All submissions must be made through the Oxford Abstracts online portal, we cannot accept submissions via email or any other method
• To start your submission, click the “Submit your poster” link, which will direct you to Oxford Abstracts
• If you have used Oxford Abstracts previously or submitted to the International Congress in the past few years, use your existing login details. If you have forgotten your password, click “Forgot password”
• New users can create an account by clicking “Sign up”, entering your name, email, and setting a password. Make sure to use an email you access regularly, as all correspondence will be sent there
• You can edit and amend your submission until the deadline (midnight GMT, Friday 6 February 2026). After the deadline, no changes will be possible
• Incomplete or draft submissions after the deadline will be deleted

• You must complete all sections of the submission form to confirm your abstract
• There is no limit to the number of submissions, but please avoid duplicate proposals. If you notice errors, edit your existing submission rather than submitting a new one
• If duplicates are submitted, older versions may be deleted and only the most up-to-date version will be reviewed
• Ensure that all submissions are marked as complete by the deadline, midnight GMT, Friday 6 February 2026. Late submissions will not be considered

• Research
• Education and Training
• Quality Improvement
• Service Evaluation
• Audit
• Case Study
• Psychopharmacology

• Abstracts must be written in English
• Maximum length: 400 words (including formulas but excluding subtitles)
• Abbreviations may be used only if they are defined (spelled out in full text at first mention) followed by abbreviation in brackets
• All sections of the abstract submission form must be completed
• Do not include bibliographical references, tables, diagrams, or appendices
• The abstract title must accurately reflect the data presented
• Conclusions must be supported by the information included in the results section
• Authors are encouraged to state their hypotheses and frame their conclusions accordingly
• “Data will be available” is not acceptable. Limited data also reduces the likelihood of acceptance
• All sources of financial sponsorship must be stated at the end of the abstract
• All abstracts must be original work
• If your abstract has been presented elsewhere, but not published, you are still able to submit for the International Congress, however you would not be eligible for publication in the BJPsych Open
• If your abstract does not follow the requested format, it will not be accepted

• Submissions must have appropriate ethical and governance approvals, where required
• Submissions are accepted on the understanding that the work has been performed with the permission of any relevant ethical or legislative body
• For studies involving service users, patients or populations, the number of participants must be stated in the Methods section

• Accepted abstracts will be published in the BJPsych Open Supplement unless you choose to opt out
• Abstracts will be published exactly as submitted, with only minimal stylistic or formatting edits
• Please ensure that all information in your abstract is accurate and exactly as you would want it to appear in the journal and on all related bibliometric platforms (including PubMed)
• Corrections will not be possible once published, except in exceptional circumstances and at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief
• Please ensure that all co-authors have reviewed the final version, are aware of these conditions, and are satisfied with both the content and the way their personal details are presented
• Submitting authors will be asked to confirm that the submission has not been published elsewhere and there are no plans for publication prior to Congress 2026 to be eligible for inclusion in the supplement
• Authors must also confirm that permission has been obtained from all named authors for submitting the abstract and completing the form on their behalf

• Only an abstract is required at the submission stage, posters are created after acceptance
• Accepted authors will be invited to upload their digital poster through an online platform
• If your abstract has been accepted then at least one of the named authors (ideally the presenting author) will need register and pay to attend at least one day of Congress. Otherwise your poster will not be displayed
• Only named authors are permitted to present
  

• A number of outstanding posters may be selected for an oral rapid-fire presentation
• Authors may opt in for consideration during the submission process
• A rapid-fire presentation offers a five-minute slot, including audience questions, for the presenting author to introduce and discuss their poster

• Some English and International Divisions have a limited number of bursaries available for presenting authors based in their region
• You can apply for these bursaries as part of the abstract submission process, provided the presenting author meets the relevant criteria
• Please view the bursary page for full details and eligibility requirements