A multi-database bibliometric study of cancer-related depression: hotspots and emerging trends

Background Depression is a prevalent mental disorder that affects cancer patients and survivors, exerting a persistent negative impact on their lives. This study aims to investigate the current status and potential trends of depression in cancer research from 2015 to June 2026. Methods The publications related to cancer-related depression were retrieved from the core database of Web of Science and Scopus, analyzed using CiteSpace and VOSviewer software, and a corresponding visual network diagram was generated for display. Results Annual output increased overall from 1,359 publications in 2015 to 3,275 in 2025, with fluctuations between years; the 1,588 publications for 2026 represent an incomplete year. The United States is the country with the largest number of publications and is at the center of international cooperation. Harvard Medical School in the United States has been the leading institution in terms of both the volume of published papers and the significance of its research contributions. Christine Miaskowski emerged as the author with the greatest output, while Jennifer S. Temel’s work achieved the highest average citation count. Among the journals, Supportive Care in Cancer published the most articles, whereas Psycho-Oncology garnered the greatest number of citations. Frequently occurring keywords in the research included “depression”, “quality of life”, and “anxiety”. In recent years, the focus has shifted toward exploring novel interventions for cancer-related depression, particularly through approaches such as virtual reality, digital health, and psychological support. Conclusions Cancer-related depression has been receiving growing attention, and greater emphasis has been placed on patients’ quality of life by researchers. It is anticipated that future research will increasingly investigate treatment strategies and supportive care for cancer-related depression, with particular attention to digital psychological interventions.