Vaping and Mental Health: Research Trends and Future Directions

This study offers the first bibliometric analysis of vaping and mental health research, revealing a shift from stagnation (2005-2011) to rapid growth (2012-2024) because of rising public health concerns. It identifies five key research clusters-public health, addiction, co-occurring mental health issues, social and environmental influences, and psychological distress-highlighting a focus on adolescents and young adults and an inclination toward cross-sectional designs. The findings underscore the need for longitudinal and experimental studies to explore causal mechanisms and inform targeted interventions while emphasizing the importance of addressing underrepresented regions and populations for equitable public health strategies.