Research Landscape of Chronic Pain and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms (1983-2025): A Comprehensive Bibliometric Analysis

Pain Res Manag. 2026;2026(1):e8816098. doi: 10.1155/prm/8816098.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Chronic pain affects a substantial proportion of the global adult population and is closely associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as depression and anxiety, which may further worsen pain outcomes and increase mortality risk. However, development trends and research hotspots in this field remain insufficiently clarified. This study aimed to provide a macroscopic overview of research on the relationship between chronic pain and neuropsychiatric symptoms and to identify future directions for research and clinical practice, with particular attention to interdisciplinary collaboration and personalized treatment strategies.

METHODS: A total of 3627 publications between 1983 and 2025 were included in the final analysis. Bibliometric analyses and visualizations were performed using the R-based Bibliometrix package, VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and Microsoft Excel 2019.

RESULTS: The number of publications in this field showed a steady upward trend, with rapid growth after 2017. Among contributing countries, the United States emerged as the most active contributor and demonstrated the strongest international collaboration. Leading institutions, including Harvard University; high-impact journals, such as Neurology and Headache; and influential researchers, such as Lipton RB, made prominent contributions to the field. Keyword co-occurrence, citation burst, and thematic evolution analyses indicated that "chronic pain," "pain management," "migraine," "depression," and "anxiety" remained central research themes, whereas "long COVID," "mental health," and "quality of life" may represent emerging future research directions.

CONCLUSION: Research in this field is increasingly shifting toward integrated pain management that incorporates neuropsychiatric and psychosocial dimensions. Future academic and clinical efforts should prioritize the development of individualized treatment frameworks to optimize patient outcomes and refine existing pain management protocols.

PMID:42968424 | DOI:10.1155/prm/8816098