Bibliometric analysis of the study on psychiatric and behavioral symptoms in patients with cognitive impairment

JIANG Haiying; CAI Qing; ZUO Caifeng; HU Yan

doi:10.12102/j.issn.2095-8668.2025.17.017

Abstract：Objective: To conduct a bibliometric analysis of research on behavioral and psychological symptoms in patients with cognitive impairment over the past 10 years, reflecting the current research status, research hotspots, and trends in this field. Methods: In June 2024, literature search and screening were conducted using the theme words "cognitive impairment/Alzheimer's disease/behavioral and psychological symptoms" in the Web of Science Core Collection and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). CiteSpace 6.2.4 software was used for bibliometric analysis and knowledge mapping of annual publication volume, countries, keywords, and co-cited documents. Results: A total of 2,939 relevant articles were retrieved, with the number of publications showing an overall annual increasing trend. The top three countries in terms of publication volume were the United States, Japan, and Australia. Current international research hotspots mainly focus on the epidemiology of behavioral and psychological symptoms, symptom management, caregiver support, and long-term care. Future research priorities include the assessment and diagnosis of symptoms, verification of the effectiveness and reliability of non-pharmacological interventions, and the current status and improvement of caregivers' care. Domestic research hotspots are pharmacological interventions and symptom management for behavioral and psychological symptoms. Future research trends are expected to focus on the correlation between cognitive function and the occurrence of behavioral and psychological symptoms, symptom management (such as risky behaviors like aggression), and adherence to medical advice for both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. Conclusion: Research on behavioral and psychological symptoms in patients with cognitive impairment is showing an annual growth trend. In the future, it is necessary to promote transnational and cross-regional cooperation, strengthen the sharing of cognitive impairment resources, pay attention to the correlation between the degree of cognitive impairment and behavioral and psychological symptoms, explore individual symptom assessment and management, and strive to improve the health outcomes of patients with cognitive impairment.