A Bibliometric Analysis of Global Research Productivity on Insomnia

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of global research productivity on insomnia from 2019 to 2023. Data were extracted from the PubMed database and analysed using Biblioshiny, with a focus on key metrics such as annual scientific production, leading authors, influential journals, and patterns of international collaboration. The findings reveal a significant rise in research output on insomnia, from 1,799 articles in 2019 to 3,213 in 2023. The highest annual growth rate of 28.9% occurred between 2019 and 2020, followed by a gradual slowing of growth, indicating a stabilisation. The distribution of journals adhered to Bradford’s Law of Scattering, with 30 core journals–such as Sleep Medicine and the Journal of Sleep Research–playing a central role in the dissemination of research. Analysis of author productivity using Lotka’s Law revealed that most authors contributed only one article, with fewer prolific authors than anticipated, suggesting distinctive research practices in the field of insomnia. Geographically, China and the United States led in research output, with substantial international collaboration observed in multi-country publications. PubMed data highlighted prominent research trends, including terms such as sleep, middle-aged, aged, and cross-sectional studies, reflecting the in-depth exploration of insomnia’s impact and management. The emergence of COVID-19-related research indicates a timely response to global health challenges. This study underscores the significant growth, key journals, and evolving research trends in the field of insomnia, emphasising the need for continued monitoring, enhanced collaboration, and adaptation to emerging health concerns to advance understanding and management of the disorder.