EP601 - Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Psychiatric Comorbidity: A Bibliometric and Science-Mapping Analysis of Gut–Brain Axis Research (2005–2025)

Purpose/Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, is closely linked to psychiatric comorbidities such as depression and anxiety. The gut-brain axis (GBA) provides a plausible mechanistic framework for this association. Despite rapid field growth, an integrated overview of the research landscape-encompassing knowledge structure, temporal trends, and collaboration networks-remains limited. We conducted a bibliometric and science-mapping analysis of publications on IBD and psychiatric comorbidity via the GBA to identify research hotspots, influential authors, institutions, and countries, and to chart the evolution of this interdisciplinary domain.

Methods/Interventions: A total of 791 peer-reviewed articles from 2005 to 2025 were identified in the Web of Science Core Collection. Bibliometric and network analyses (co-authorship, co-citation, and keyword co-occurrence) were performed using CiteSpace. Key metrics included publication counts, betweenness centrality (BC), and Kleinberg burst detection for keywords, authors, institutions, and countries. Science maps were generated to visualize collaboration networks, keyword co-occurrence, and thematic clusters.

Results/Outcomes: Of the 791 publications, annual output increased substantially across the study period. High-frequency keywords included "inflammatory bowel disease" (n=356), "gut microbiota" (n=236), and "ulcerative colitis" (n=191). High-BC terms-such as "intestinal microbiota" (BC=0.08) and "short-chain fatty acids" (BC=0.09)-functioned as conceptual bridges within the network. A temporal shift was observed from early IBD pathophysiology toward GBA-focused mechanisms after 2010, with rising emphasis on fecal microbiota transplantation, depression, and anxiety. China produced the greatest number of publications (n=220), whereas the United States showed the highest network influence (BC=0.53) and extensive cross-institutional collaboration. Major contributing institutions included McMaster University, the University of California system, and University College Cork, with John F. Cryan and Dong-Hyun Kim among the most prominent authors. Sustained centrality of Western institutions and the rapid expansion of Asian contributors delineate a maturing, globally networked field.

Conclusion/Discussion: This bibliometric synthesis maps the GBA-centered interface between IBD and psychiatric comorbidity, underscoring an interdisciplinary knowledge base spanning gastroenterology, microbiology, neuroscience, and behavioral medicine. The centrality of gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids highlights their mechanistic relevance. For colorectal surgeons, these trends support integrating mental-health screening and perioperative, microbiome-informed care, alongside translational studies (e.g., microbiota-targeted therapies and vagus-nerve modulation) to address bidirectional gut-brain signaling. Future work should prioritize prospective, clinically anchored investigations linking psychiatric outcomes with IBD activity and treatment trajectories.