The interaction between pain and mental disorders: An interdisciplinary analysis through bibliometrics

The evolving research on the interactions between pain and mental disorders underscores the critical role of neuroimmune interplay in shaping pain perception and mental illness progression. This study employs bibliometric analysis to scrutinize the research landscape, identify emerging hotspots, and forecast future directions. A systematic review of literature from 2014 to 2023 was conducted using CiteSpace software for co-citation analysis, keyword co-occurrence, and burst detection to identify research hotspots and trends. The study examined developmental trends in pain and psychiatric disorder research, highlighting major research institutions and key themes. It unveils pivotal contributors and collaborative networks, showing significant growth in recent years. Emphasis is placed on neuroinflammation and neuroimmunomodulation interactions with mental illnesses. Keyword and thematic clustering analyses highlight the roles of microglial activation, inflammatory mediators, neurotransmitters, and emotional regulation processes. This study paves the way for future inquiries into neuroimmune mechanisms, the development of personalized treatment strategies, and an interdisciplinary approach to enrich our understanding of the biopsychosocial model in these conditions. Future studies should delve deeper into the molecular intricacies of these interactions to develop more effective therapeutic strategies, aiming to enhance patients' quality of life.