A Bibliometric Analysis of Insomnia in Depression

Background : Insomnia significantly impairs the quality of life of patients with depression and has increasingly garnered the attention of scholars. It is a major focus of current research, characterized by a high degree of exploratory nature and of significant importance to human health. The present study aims to analyze the current state of research on the relationship between depression and insomnia through the method of bibliometrics. Utilizing software, we have examined popular research questions and directions, revealing the developmental trends and research frontiers in this field. Method: A literature search was conducted on the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database for publications related to depression and insomnia from 2014 to 2024. Bibliometric analysis was performed using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the R package "bibliometrix". Results: A total of 496 articles were retrieved, originating from 57 countries, with a publication volume of 990 from major research institutions. The Journal of Affective Disorders was the most prolific in this field, while Sleep was the most cited journal. Christopher L. Drake emerged as the author with the highest publication volume, and CM Morin was the most cited author. Insomnia and depression were the main topics of interest in this field. Sleep quality and anxiety were identified as the primary keywords. Conclusion: This is the first bibliometric study that has summarized the research trends and developments concerning the relationship between depression and insomnia. The information identified the latest research frontiers and hot topics, providing references for further studies on depression.