A CiteSpace-Based Evolutionary Analysis of Eastern and Western Music Therapy in Depression Intervention

探讨和梳理近20年来国内外音乐疗法在抑郁症治疗中的应用与研究进展，旨在揭示该领域的研究热点、发展趋势及中西方研究的异同，从而为后续研究和临床实践提供理论依据与参考。方法：通过对中国知网和Web of Science数据库中2003年至2023年的相关文献进行检索和筛选(419篇中文文献和189篇英文文献)，利用CiteSpace软件对文献进行关键词共现、聚类和突现分析，构建科学知识图谱，定量展示研究动态。结果：分析表明，文献发文量呈逐年上升趋势，研究逐步向多学科交叉融合发展。国内外均将提升生活质量作为抑郁症治疗的核心目标，但国内研究更侧重于中医特色疗法的应用，而国外则聚焦于基于现代神经科学的机制探讨及特定群体的干预。结论：音乐疗法在缓解抑郁症症状方面具有显著潜力，但现有研究较为分散。未来应加强跨学科合作，融合现代科技与传统理论，开展针对性更强的实证研究，以进一步阐明其作用机制并优化临床应用。Objective To explore and review the application and research progress of music therapy in the treatment of depression over the past 20 years both domestically and internationally, with the aim of revealing research hotspots, development trends, and the similarities and differences between Eastern and Western studies, thereby providing theoretical support and references for future research and clinical practice. Methods: Relevant literature from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and the Web of Science databases between 2003 and 2023, were retrieved and screened (419 Chinese articles and 189 English articles). CiteSpace software was utilized to conduct co-occurrence, clustering, and burst analyses of keywords, thereby constructing scientific knowledge maps and quantitatively displaying research dynamics. Results: Analysis revealed a year-by-year increase in the number of publications and a gradual shift towards interdisciplinary and integrative research. Both domestic and international studies prioritize the improvement of quality of life as the core goal in treating depression; however, domestic research emphasizes the application of traditional Chinese medicine-based therapies (e.g., Five Elements Music Therapy), while international studies focus on mechanisms based on modern neuroscience and targeted interventions for specific groups. Conclusion: Music therapy exhibits significant potential in alleviating depressive symptoms; however, current research is relatively fragmented. Future research should enhance interdisciplinary cooperation, integrate modern technology with traditional theories, and conduct more targeted empirical studies to further clarify the underlying mechanisms and optimize clinical applications.