Happy New Year 2024!

Dear readers,

As we stand on the threshold of the holiday season, it gives us great pleasure to extend our warmest congratulations and best wishes for a Happy New Year!

The past year has been marked by significant progress in our ongoing efforts to cover epilepsy, paroxysmal conditions and related therapeutic areas.

The Editorial Board of the journal has been significantly expanded to include, in addition to recognised experts in epileptology, leading experts in other areas of adult and paediatric neurology, stress management, somnology, syncope and cardiac arrhythmias, as well as clinical pharmacologists, psychiatrists, therapists, physiotherapists and rehabilitation medicine specialists. This ensured a qualitative selection of original and review articles in these therapeutic areas, as well as papers at the interface of specialties, embodying a multidisciplinary approach.

Of particular note is the series of articles in Practical and Technical Aspects of EEG section, which deals with the basic principles of the operation and design of modern EEG recorders, relevant to specialists involved in EEG recording and analysis as well as to a wide range of neurologists-epileptologists.

We have also introduced the From History section, which is dedicated to the development of knowledge and ideas about seizure disorders, social aspects, and introduces readers to famous patients and doctors in a historical context.

In 2023, the proportion of foreign authors and publications in English has increased significantly. In addition, we now increasingly publish the full text of articles in two languages (Russian and English) on the journal's official website, in addition to a short summary in English, which increases the likelihood of the work being cited abroad and thus contributes to an increase in the authors' Hirsch index in RSCI, Scopus and Web of Science.

This year we achieved a significant reduction in the editorial process time from submission to publication decision based on the results of peer review, which now averages 3 months.

Last year the journal became a partner of such important events in the field of children's health as the XXI Russian Congress "Innovative Technologies in Pediatrics and Children's Surgery" and the cycle of scientific and informational events on pediatrics for practitioners "Pediatry. Success Unveiled". All registered participants receive the latest issues of the journal free of charge by e-mail. In total, the newsletter is sent to the personal email addresses of more than 11,533 health professionals (an increase of 26.7% compared to 2023)!

The journal has strengthened its position in the Scopus ranking (CiteScore 0.7 in December, up 17% year-on-year), is indexed in China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) Scholar (China's national database of scientific literature), and is included in the Russian Centre for Scientific Information's (RCSI) White List, a list of scientific journals that should be used to assess the performance of scientific organisations. We have also been awarded the DOAJ Seal, which is given to journals that demonstrate best practice. Only 10% of the journals indexed in the DOAJ database have the DOAJ Seal. And of course, we invite postgraduate students, postdocs and grant holders to publish their research in our journal!

In this way, our collective efforts have borne many fruits, contributing to progress in the dissemination of scientific knowledge. Groundbreaking studies have been published, revealing new aspects of the diagnosis and management of patients with epilepsy and paroxysmal conditions. Collaborations and discussions that enrich our knowledge base have further contributed to the formation of a dynamic academic community around the journal, a trend that was initiated 15 years ago by Prof. Gagik N. Avakyan, the inspirer and first Editor-in-Chief, who has been consistent in this direction over the years since the journal's inception.

Next year will be particularly significant as Epilepsy and Paroxysmal Condition celebrates its 15^th anniversary. This milestone is a testament to the continued commitment of our authors, reviewers and readers – your support has been and continues to be the cornerstone of the journal's success. As we enter this milestone year, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Editorial Board members, authors, reviewers and readers for your invaluable contributions. Your efforts in clinical research and education of young professionals continue to shape the scientific and informational landscape in neurology and related fields and encourage us to strive for excellence.

In the coming year, we renew our commitment to upholding the highest standards of academic publishing, encouraging innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration and the dissemination of scientific knowledge.

May the year 2024 be filled with new discoveries and achievements that will pave the way for improving the quality of life of patients! Once again, we wish you a happy and prosperous New Year, filled with limitless opportunities and unwavering success!

With best wishes,
Editorial Team,
Epilepsy and Paroxysmal Conditions journal;
Institute for Preventive and Social Medicine