Bibliometric analysis of studies investigating the association between isotretinoin use and depression and suicide.

BACKGROUND

Acne vulgaris has significant effects on the emotional and social wellbeing of an affected individual, leading to conditions like anxiety, depression and social isolation. Oral isotretinoin has been associated with various side-effects, including psychiatric concerns like depression and suicidal ideation. However, the connection between isotretinoin and these mental health issues remains controversial.

OBJECTIVES

To provide an overview of the literature on the subject by investigating data such as the effects of articles in the field on the literature as a whole, coauthorship and citation analysis.

METHODS

A bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Web of Science database to search for studies from 1986 to 2024 with keywords related to isotretinoin, suicide and depression. Data were analysed using VOSviewer software to visualize the bibliometric networks and trends.

RESULTS

For the study, 380 publications were identified, with a peak in 2018. The most common article types were original articles (60.3%), reviews (13.9%) and letters (12.1%). English is the predominant language of publication (93.4%). The h-index of these articles was 49, with an average of 23.0 citations per article. The top research areas included dermatology, pharmacology and psychiatry. The analysis highlights key authors and their contributions to the field.

CONCLUSIONS

The bibliometric analysis has revealed an evolving research landscape. The number of studies has increased since 2004, following the Food and Drug Administration's black box warning in 2005. While early studies linked isotretinoin to psychiatric issues, recent data have shown a stronger association between acne and these conditions rather than the medication itself. This analysis underscores the importance of continuous research and re-evaluation of clinical guidelines based on emerging evidence.