Tren Global Research Trends in Postpartum Depression in the Perinatal Period 2016–2026: A Bibliometric Analysis

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a maternal mental health issue that can affect a mother’s well-being, her child’s development, and the quality of caregiving. This study aims to map the development of global scientific publications on PPD during the perinatal period from 2016 to 2026, including publication trends, citation patterns, author productivity, distribution across scientific disciplines, thematic developments, and scientific collaboration. The study employs a descriptive bibliometric approach using data obtained from the Dimensions database on May 25, 2026. The identification and selection of publications were reported using the PRISMA 2020 flowchart, while bibliometric analysis was conducted using VOSviewer version 1.6.20 through analysis of publication trends, citations, keyword co-occurrence, and author collaboration (co-authorship), as well as network visualization, overlays, and density. The search and selection process identified 38,513 publications for analysis. The number of publications increased from 2,548 in 2017 to 5,511 in 2025, while the figure for 2026 is still provisional as the publication year has not yet ended. The fields of Health Sciences and Psychology dominate the distribution of publications, followed by Biomedical and Clinical Sciences and Midwifery. The keyword mapping reveals a strong focus on symptom screening and assessment using the EPDS, questionnaires, and scores, as well as the evaluation of interventions through randomized controlled trials, effectiveness, and efficacy. Themes such as prevention, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses also emerged in the research landscape. Meanwhile, the authors’ collaborative networks remain scattered across small groups. Overall, this study describes the development and structure of global knowledge regarding PPD and highlights opportunities for strengthening collaboration and advancing evidence-based intervention research.