Dear Readers,
The Editorial Board of the IJ Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is issuing this Expression of Concern regarding the above-referenced article (1). We have been informed by PAR Inc., the copyright holders of the TICS (Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status) and MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination), that the authors may not have obtained the necessary permissions to use these tools in their study.
The authors have been contacted and requested to provide documentation confirming that appropriate permissions were secured for the use of the TICS and MMSE in their research. They have also been given the option to contact the copyright holders to obtain the required permissions retroactively.
In alignment with COPE’s guidelines on legal and regulatory restrictions concerning published data (COPE Flowchart), we are conducting a thorough investigation into this matter.
It is important to note that the article was mistakenly retracted due to a misidentification during our internal handling of the case.
We have since reversed the retraction and are currently awaiting the final outcome of the authors' agreement with PAR Inc. to determine the article’s ultimate status.
We appreciate the understanding and patience of our readers and stakeholders as we work to resolve this issue promptly. Any further developments will be communicated transparently, and appropriate actions will be taken to maintain the integrity of the scientific record.
Prof. Mehran Zarghami
Editor-In-Chief
IJ Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
