Trends in Mental Health: A Review of the Most Influential Research on Depression in Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Abstract Background Depression is a common mental disorder in children and adolescents, with a global prevalence of approximately 33%, severely affecting their physical, mental health, and academic performance. This study aims to identify and assess the 100 most-cited articles (T100 articles) on depression in children and adolescents. Methods The T100 articles in the field of depression were retrieved from the SCI-E and SSCI databases. A comprehensive analysis of the T100 articles was conducted, including the number of citations, countries, journals, keywords, authors, and topics. Results Between 1981 and 2021, T100 articles in child and adolescent depression received 423 to 3949 citations. Most articles originated from the USA, with Kovacs M as the top-ranked author. The University of Pittsburgh and Columbia University published the top two T100 articles. The T100 articles were published in 36 journals, led by AMA Psychiatry. Co-occurrence keywords analyses reveal six key foci: Pathogenesis of Depression, Treatment of MDD in Children, Early Childhood Treatment, Adolescent Depression Manifestations, Gender and Depression, and Primary Care Considerations, with pathogenesis as a future trend. Conclusions Our research presents an exhaustive list of the most highly cited articles on depression in children and adolescents. Our findings not only underscore the significance of international cooperation but also reveal a pressing need to prioritize and bolster preventive research, particularly the development and refinement of early screening and intervention programs.

Keywords

• Adolescents
• Bibliometric analysis
• Children
• Depression