Abstract
In recent decades, the prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) has dramatically risen due to modern environmental exposures and drastic lifestyle changes. Furthermore, many studies emphasize that the prevalence of mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, is much higher among patients with AD compared to the general population. Consequently, there is an urgent imperative to delve into emerging research trends and focal points concerning the association between AD and depression. By analyzing the literature on the correlation between AD and Depression in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) over the past three decades, our study aims to investigate the key research areas and trends related to the connection between AD and depression through bibliometric analysis, offering useful insights for future researchers in this area. Publications from January 1, 1994, to December 31, 2024, were retrieved from WoSCC on January 5, 2025, and visualized with Excel and Vosviewer software. Summing up to 729 papers were included, authored by 3,670 individuals. The United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom were prominent in researching the link between AD and depression, with the US publishing the highest number of papers-216 in total. Jonathan I. Silverberg stood out as the most prolific author in this field. Keywords visualization analysis revealed that "atopic dermatitis" and "depression" were core topics. It is noteworthy that there has been a significant evolution in research emphasis over time, with studies of AD associated with depression moving from early "pruritus" "psoriasis", and "stress" studies, gradually transitioning into the field of adolescent mental health, suggesting that society's interest in dermatologic conditions and their psychological impact is gradually extending from purely physical symptoms to the broader implications of mental health and quality of life. A thorough bibliometric analysis was initially performed to outline the current state and knowledge framework of the connection between AD and depression, aiming to offer guidance and new insights for future research in this area.