Mapping the current trends and hotspots of transcranial magnetic stimulation-based addiction treatment from 2001-2023: A bibliometric analysis

BACKGROUND The prevalence of addiction makes it a significant public health issue. Recently, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has garnered significant attention as a promising treatment for addiction. AIM To analyze development trends and research hotspots in TMS-based addiction treatment using a bibliometric approach. METHODS Articles on TMS-based addiction treatment from 2001 to 2023 were sourced from the Science Citation Index Expanded in the Web of Science Core Collection. CiteSpace software, VOSviewer, the "bibliometrix" R software package, and the bibliometric online analysis platform were used to analyze the current publication trends and hotspots. RESULTS Total 190 articles on TMS-based addiction treatment were identified, with clinical studies being the most prevalent. The United States led in both publication volume and international collaborations. Medical University of South Carolina and Zangen A were the most productive institution and author, respectively. Neurobiology, alcohol use disorder, and repetitive TMS were the most recent research hotspots. CONCLUSION Future research should focus on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying TMS-based addiction treatment. This study offers comprehensive insights and recommendations for advancing research on TMS-based addiction treatment.