Research Trends of Acupuncture Therapy for Chronic Pain-Related Depression or Anxiety from 2003 to 2023: A Bibliometric Analysis.

Chronic pain that lasts for months or years can take a serious toll on mental health, often leading to depression and anxiety. This creates a challenging cycle where pain worsens mood, and poor mental health can make pain harder to manage. A new study looked at 20 years of research (2003-2023) to understand how acupuncture is being used to help people dealing with both chronic pain and mood problems. Researchers analyzed 254 published studies to identify trends and hot topics in this field. They found that interest in using acupuncture for pain-related depression and anxiety has grown steadily over the past two decades. The research focused primarily on specific conditions where chronic pain and negative mood often occur together, including fibromyalgia (widespread muscle pain), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and neuropathic pain (nerve damage pain). Most studies were randomized controlled trials—the gold standard for medical research—examining whether acupuncture actually works for these combined problems. Scientists are also investigating how acupuncture affects the body and brain to improve both pain and mood simultaneously. China has led the research in this area, though studies are being conducted worldwide. The findings suggest acupuncture is an increasingly recognized option for people struggling with the double burden of chronic pain and mental health challenges. This research doesn't prove acupuncture works for everyone, but it shows the medical community is taking this approach seriously and studying it rigorously. If you're considering acupuncture for chronic pain and related mood issues, seek a licensed acupuncturist with appropriate credentials in your area.

This bibliometric analysis examined 254 publications from the Web of Science Core Collection (2003-2023) investigating acupuncture therapy for chronic pain-related depression or anxiety. Using CiteSpace and VOSviewer software, researchers identified publication trends, productive institutions, and research hotspots. China and Beijing University of Chinese Medicine were the most prolific contributors. Analysis revealed increasing research interest with fluctuations over two decades. Key research hotspots include fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and neuropathic pain—conditions with high comorbidity of pain and mood disorders. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), mechanistic studies, and evidence-based evaluations constitute the primary research directions. The most frequently appearing keywords were "acupuncture," "depression," and "chronic pain." Pain and BMJ-British Medical Journal demonstrated highest citation impact and centrality, respectively. Clinical takeaway: Growing body of rigorous research supports acupuncture as a therapeutic option for patients presenting with comorbid chronic pain and mood disorders, particularly fibromyalgia, IBS, and neuropathic pain. Practitioners should stay current with emerging mechanistic evidence and RCT findings in this evolving field.