Global research trends in gastroesophageal reflux disease and depression: A bibliometric analysis

BACKGROUND: The association between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and depression has received increasing attention, but the knowledge structure of this field remains insufficiently summarized. This study aimed to analyze global trends, hotspots, and frontier directions in GERD and depression research using bibliometric methods. METHODS: English articles and reviews related to GERD and depression that were published between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2024, were retrieved from Web of Science. After screening and duplicate removal, 636 publications were included. R software, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace were used for bibliometric analysis and visualization. RESULTS: Annual publication output in GERD and depression research showed an overall upward trend, indicating growing research attention in this field. The United States contributed the largest number of publications, followed by China, Australia, Japan, and South Korea. The University of California was the most productive institution. Talley NJ was the most productive author, while Fass R was the most frequently co-cited author. Neurogastroenterology and Motility published the most studies, whereas the American Journal of Gastroenterology had the highest citation frequency. Keyword and thematic evolution analyses showed that "quality of life," "comorbidities," "Mendelian randomization," "inflammation," and "brain-gut axis" were important themes. Research hotspots mainly focused on the causal relationship between GERD and depression, the impact of comorbidity on quality of life, and potential mechanisms such as inflammation and the brain-gut axis. CONCLUSION: This bibliometric analysis outlined the knowledge structure and developmental trends in GERD and depression research. Future studies should further clarify the bidirectional association and biological mechanisms linking GERD and depression, while strengthening research on quality of life and comprehensive management strategies for patients with comorbid conditions.