Vaping and Mental Health: Research Trends and Future Directions

While the physical health risks of vaping are well-documented, emerging evidence links vaping to adverse mental health outcomes, underscoring the need for a comprehensive review of research trends. This study provides the first bibliometric analysis of vaping and mental health, mapping publication trends, identifying research gaps, and highlighting emerging priorities to inform public health strategies and future research.

Publications from 2005 to 2024 were analyzed in the Scopus database, focusing on "article" and "review" categories. They were classified as data-based or nondata-based and categorized by design, population, and mental health outcomes.

The analysis identified 662 publications, revealing two distinct phases: a stagnation phase (2005-2011) with minimal output, and a productive phase (2012-2024), with 23% published between 2012 and 2019 and 77% published between 2020 and 2024. Five thematic clusters were uncovered: public health and epidemiology, addiction and substance use, mental health and co-occurring disorders, social/environmental influences, and psychological distress in academic settings. Cross-sectional studies dominated the field, with adolescents and young adults being the primary populations. Depression and addiction were the most frequently studied topics, with an increasing focus on severe conditions like suicidality. Research remains concentrated in high-income countries, particularly the United States, with Addictive Behaviors and Nicotine and Tobacco Research leading in publication volume.

Our review underscores the need for continued research into the underexplored yet critical intersection of vaping and mental health. Understanding this complex relationship is vital for developing effective prevention and intervention strategies.

This study offers the first bibliometric analysis of vaping and mental health research, revealing a shift from stagnation (2005-2011) to rapid growth (2012-2024) because of rising public health concerns. It identifies five key research clusters-public health, addiction, co-occurring mental health issues, social and environmental influences, and psychological distress-highlighting a focus on adolescents and young adults and an inclination toward cross-sectional designs. The findings underscore the need for longitudinal and experimental studies to explore causal mechanisms and inform targeted interventions while emphasizing the importance of addressing underrepresented regions and populations for equitable public health strategies.