Global insights into lung cancer-related depression and anxiety from 2005 to 2025: a bibliometric analysis

Depression and anxiety are common psychiatric symptoms among lung cancer patients, compromising quality of life. A growing number of reports have explored the relationship between lung cancer and these psychological disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the research trends and emerging hotspots in lung cancer-related depression and anxiety from a bibliometric perspective.

Relevant articles published between 2005 and 2025 were retrieved from Web of Science Core Collection. VOSviewer, CiteSpace, the "bibliometrix" R package, and an online bibliometric analysis platform were employed to examine publication trends and research hotspots. Regression analysis using Microsoft Excel 2021 was conducted to estimate future publication trends.

Overall, 289 articles on lung cancer-related depression and anxiety were identified, with most studies focusing on lung cancer as a contributing factor to these conditions. The United States and China emerged as the most prominent contributors regarding international collaboration and publication volume. Harvard University was the leading institution in research output, while Daniel C. McFarland was the most prolific author. Recent research hotspots included fatigue, stress, and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Future studies should investigate the roles and biological mechanisms of psychological interventions in lung cancer cases with depression or anxiety, particularly in those with NSCLC. This study provides a systematic overview and valuable insights to guide future investigations in this field.