Epigenetics of bipolar disorder: a bibliometric landscape and visualization analysis

The incidence of bipolar disorder (BD) is an ongoing global public health concern, driving a heightened focus on elucidating its underlying pathophysiology. Mounting evidence indicates that epigenetic mechanisms play a pivotal role in the onset and progression of BD, presenting promising avenues for identifying novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets. However, a comprehensive bibliometric mapping of the intellectual structure and research frontiers in this rapidly evolving field is currently lacking.

A systematic literature search was conducted to retrieve relevant publications spanning from January 1995 to October 2025, utilizing both the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) and Scopus databases. Following rigorous screening and deduplication processes, bibliometric and visual analyses were executed using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the Bibliometrix R package. We systematically evaluated publication trends, collaboration networks (countries, institutions, and authors), and core themes.

A total of 1154 valid documents were included in the final analysis. The United States emerged as the most productive and influential country in this domain, with Harvard University identified as the leading institution. Kato T and Nöthen MM were recognized as the most prolific author and highly co-cited scientist, respectively. Molecular Psychiatry stood out as the core journal, featuring both the highest publication volume and citation frequency. Keyword co-occurrence and burst detection revealed that current research frontiers predominantly encompass histone modifications, HDAC inhibitors, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and the interplay between genetic variants (e.g., SNPs, CNVs) and epigenetic regulation.

This bibliometric study delineates the developmental trajectory of epigenetic research in BD. The field is actively shifting from fundamental epigenetic mechanisms towards the exploration of dynamic regulatory networks (e.g., lncRNAs and HPA axis) and multi-omics integration. These findings provide researchers with a structural overview of current hotspots and highlight robust directions for future clinical translation and targeted epigenetic interventions.