Worldwide Research Trends on Substance Use Disorder-Related Inflammatory Imbalances: A Bibliometric Analysis

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a complex, chronic, and relapsing encephalopathy associated with inflammatory processes. This study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis to elucidate the current landscape, research hotspots, and evolving trends in the field of SUD-related inflammation imbalance.

Original research and review articles pertaining to "SUD-inflammation" subject were systematically retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database, encompassing publications from its inception to January 1, 2025. Co-authorship, collaboration, co-citation, and co-occurrence analyses were performed using VOSviewer, and CiteSpace was utilized to identify strongest citation bursts and keyword trends.

A total of 2318 publications on "SUD-inflammation" realm were included. A marked increase in publication output was observed starting in 2019. The United States (US) and China emerged as the most prolific countries. The journal, institution, and author, with the largest number of total publications (NP), were respectively JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SYSTEM, and Michael Maes. Core terms "microglial activation," "oxidative stress," and "TLR4 signaling" were among the most frequently studied topics. Additionally, the roles of the "gut-immune-brain" axis and N-acetylcysteine in drug addiction have been receiving significant attention.

This bibliometric study delineates the foundational knowledge structural and mapping of the "SUD-inflammation" field over the past 25 years. The findings provide a comprehensive and data-driven perspective on the evolving research landscape, offering valuable insights for future investigations and resource allocation.