Published 'withdrawn' Cochrane Review or protocol for a Cochrane Review

When a protocol or review is withdrawn, it will be flagged in the published version in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR) as 'withdrawn'.

Published Cochrane Reviews (including protocols) are not removed from the CDSR. Published versions that precede a withdrawn version are available via the 'History' section of the Cochrane Review.

The following information is included in the withdrawn version:

  • Reason for withdrawing the protocol/review (as inserted in the 'Published Notes' section in the RevMan file), preceded by "Reason for withdrawal from publication".
  • Standard publication information: title, authors (as listed on previous citation version), citation, DOI, publication date, editorial group name, Sources of support (as listed on previous citation version), and publishing events (What's new and History).
  • The following text is inserted automatically at the end of the 'Reason for withdrawing this protocol/review' text: "The editorial group responsible for this previously published document have withdrawn it from publication."
  • Citations for the withdrawn version, as available via Crossref Cited-by Linking.
  • Published versions that precede a withdrawn version are available in the CDSR via the History section in the article.

PubMed record for a 'withdrawn' Cochrane Review

  • Article title preceded by "WITHDRAWN:".
  • Abstract of the version that has been withdrawn.
  • No labels