Ipek Özönder Ünal, Tonguc Demir Berkol
Southern Clinics of Istanbul Eurasia - 2025;36(4):411-420
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic psychiatric condition characterized by recurrent episodes of mania, hypomania, and depression. Emerging evidence suggests that inflammation plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of BD, with elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and systemic immune dysregulation implicated. Despite growing interest, there is no comprehensive bibliometric analysis focusing on bipolar disorder and inflammation. A bibliometric analysis was performed using the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database, encompassing publications from inception to 2024. VOSviewer was utilized to analyze key trends, including publication dynamics, influential authors, citation patterns, keyword co-occurrences, and co-authorship networks. A total of 2,530 publications were identified, including 1,812 original articles and 718 reviews, demonstrating exponential growth since 2015. The United States, Brazil, and Canada emerged as the leading contributors, with significant output from institutions such as the University of Toronto and Deakin University. Influential authors included Michael Berk, Roger McIntyre, and Michael Maes. Research focused on keywords such as "cytokines", "neuroinflammation", and "oxidative stress", while emerging topics like "gut microbiota" and "neuroprogression" indicate evolving research priorities. Citation burst analysis highlighted significant advancements in inflammatory biomarkers and novel therapeutic approaches. However, global collaboration networks remain limited, particularly in underrepresented regions. This bibliometric analysis highlights the increasing interest in inflammation's role in BD and identifies key contributors, research trends, and emerging directions. Future research should prioritize international collaboration, systemic and molecular mechanisms, and translational efforts to improve diagnostics and treatment. These findings provide a roadmap for advancing research on bipolar disorder and inflammation.
