Editorial – A New International Scholarly Journal Is Born

Abstract

Prenatal psychology is a comparatively young scientific discipline that, despite increasing empirical evidence, has long struggled for recognition within the academic community. This article outlines the historical development of the field and highlights the pioneering editorial work of Professor Peter G. Fedor-Freybergh, who in 1979 founded the International Journal of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Medicine, thereby establishing the first international platform for research in prenatal and perinatal psychology. His sustained commitment, together with the contributions of numerous authors, has had a lasting influence on the discipline.

The article traces the continuity from these early foundations to the present and acknowledges key figures who have played a central role in collecting, critically engaging with, and disseminating knowledge in prenatal psychology, including Dr. Ludwig Janus and Professor Otwin Linderkamp. Against this background, the launch of the European Journal of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health is presented as a logical next step: a modern European scholarly journal that builds on the legacy of the International Journal, adheres to current scientific standards, and provides a renewed and visible forum for prenatal and perinatal psychology within contemporary academic discourse.