Trends and hotspots in subjective idiopathic tinnitus and anxiety disorder research based on Bibliometrics

Objective: Subjective idiopathic tinnitus is characterized by the subjective perception of sound in the absence of an external source, significantly impairing quality of life. Studies have found that a considerable number of tinnitus patients experience comorbid negative emotional states such as anxiety disorders, while emotional dysregulation can, in turn, exacerbate the perceived tinnitus, indicating a close interrelationship. A systematic bibliometric summary in this field is currently lacking. This study aims to employ bibliometric methods to reveal the research dynamics, collaborative networks, and emerging trends in the tinnitus-anxiety disorder association field. Methods: A total of 773 publications related to tinnitus and anxiety/mood disorders from 2014 to 2025 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). After screening, 262 valid publications were included. Bibliometric and visual analyses of countries/regions, authors, institutions, journals, keywords, and references were performed using VOSviewer (v1.6.20), CiteSpace (v6.4.R2), Scimago Graphica, R-bibliometrix (R 4.5.1; Massimo Aria & Corrado Cuccurullo, University of Naples Federico II), and Microsoft Excel. Results: The United States produced the most publications (58) and maintained extensive international collaborations. The University of Nottingham was the most prolific institution (24 publications). Frontiers in Neurology was the most popular journal, publishing the most articles (13). LARYNGOSCOPE was the most cited journal (314 citations). Gerhard Andersson was the leading contributor, being the most prolific author (11 publications) and the most cited (1145 citations). Keyword co-occurrence analysis identified “Tinnitus, anxiety, depression, prevalence, severity, association, hospital anxiety” as core research hotspots. Co-cited reference analysis indicated that the tinnitus handicap inventory, the hospital anxiety and depression scale, alongside investigations into tinnitus mechanisms and treatment strategies, received the most significant attention. Conclusion: This bibliometric study provides a comprehensive overview of the research landscape concerning subjective idiopathic tinnitus and anxiety disorders. It identifies the most influential countries/regions, institutions, and authors, and delineates the current research hotspots and emerging trends. The findings offer theoretical guidance for future research into the shared mechanisms and treatment strategies for tinnitus comorbid with emotional disorders.