Bibliometric and visual analysis of cancer-related insomnia research from 2015 to 2025

As the second most prevalent cancer-related symptom, insomnia has a long-lasting detrimental effect on cancer patients' and survivors' quality of life. This study is intended to examine the current research status and emerging hotspots of cancer-related insomnia from January 1, 2015, to March 25, 2025, to provide a valuable reference for future investigations.

Literature related to cancer-associated insomnia was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection and visually analyzed using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Scimago Graphica.

A total of 732 articles were retrieved. Research on cancer-related insomnia has exhibited a generally upward trend. Among these, the United States ranks first in publication volume, while Laval University in Canada is identified as the most productive institution. The Journal of Clinical Oncology is the most frequently cited, whereas Supportive Care in Cancer has the highest number of published articles. Garland, Sheila N was the most published author, while Mao, Jun J had the highest average number of citations in publications. The current research hotspots have been identified as insomnia in breast and lung cancer, quality of life among patients with cancer-related insomnia, and therapeutic approaches to its management. Future investigations are anticipated to emphasize the screening and assessment of insomnia in oncology populations, along with broader issues in supportive care.

Insomnia has increasingly been recognized for its detrimental impact on treatment efficacy and overall quality of life among individuals diagnosed with cancer and those in post-treatment survivorship. This study presents an in-depth bibliometric analysis of cancer-related insomnia literature published between 2015 and 2025, serving as a foundational reference for subsequent investigations.