SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article

Front. Psychiatry

Sec. Neurostimulation

Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1526225

Global Trends and Hotspots Research in the Treatment of mental disorder with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: a bibliometric analysis

Provisionally accepted
  • 1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
  • 2Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine in Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu , China, chengdu, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

Background: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is increasingly utilized in the treatment of mental disorders (MD). The exploration and expanding application of various new TMS mode have significantly propelled the advancement of related clinical research. Methods: We reviewed research published in the Science Citation Index Expanded of Web of Science Core Collection database. Using Citespace 6.1, Vosviewer 1.6.20, and Scimago Graphica 1.0.38 software, we conducted a comprehensive visual analysis of TMS on MD from multiple dimensions, including influential countries/regions, institutions, authors, and high-frequency keywords and burst keywords. Results: A total of 611 papers between 1996 and 2023 were identified. Recently, the application of TMS on MD have gained increasing recognition. The USA leads in research publications in this field, followed by Germany and China. Institutionally, the University of Toronto in Canada ranks first (n=48); Professor Zafiris J. Daskalakis from the University of California tops among individual researchers (n=24). Cluster analysis of keywords reveal four representative clusters, demonstrating shifts in research focus and direction over time. Current hotspots focus on exploring the effectiveness of different TMS modes and stimulation targets in treating severe depression, obsessivecompulsive disorder, and schizophrenia. Analysis of burst keywords indicated that the latest research are the feasibility and safety of various emerging TMS stimulation mode for treating refractory depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Conclusions: Our study provides valuable insights into the current hotspots and emerging trends of TMS in the treatment of MD, providing a direction for future research to consider.

Keywords: TMS, mental disorder, Depression, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Safety, bibliometric analysis, trends and hotspots

Received: 22 Nov 2024; Accepted: 14 Apr 2025.

Copyright: © 2025 Ma, Wei, Rao, Li and Gao. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence: Qiang Gao, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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