Acupuncture Research: A Bibliometric Analysis of Primary Studies Spanning 1998-2018 (original) (raw)

Abstract

To address a void in the literature, the current study presents the results of a content analysis of published primary research on the topic of acupuncture, spanning the past 20 years (1998-2018). The aim was to identify the major issues that were the focus of investigation in acupuncture research using a bibliometric design. PsycINFO was the repository of literature for the current analysis since extant research on acupuncture is cross-disciplinary and international in scope. An online (any field) search in PsycINFO produced a pool of 1,064 references; of these, 840 were primary studies reported in peer-reviewed articles. The author reviewed each study and determined the main topic and focus of the article emphasized by the investigator(s) of each study. A runningtab, based on frequency counts across categories was maintained, producing a systematic ranking of major topics. The most emphasized investigatory area was by far central nervous system (CNS) physiology reflecting the neurobiological basis for acupuncture procedures (15% of dataset). Other major topical areas, representing from 5 to 8% of the reviewed articles, were: mechanisms of action in the peripheral nervous system, acceptance in the modern care milieu, depression states, substance abuse disorders, acupoints/meridians, and placebo-expectancy effects. A sizeable minority of acupuncture research covered clinical dysfunctions and investigatory areas (patient satisfaction, smoking cessation), outside the domain of pain conditions. The current analysis identified several areas of moderate research emphasis. There appears to be a dearth of acupuncture research on disorders that have mainly a psychological component, such as anxiety, obsessive-compulsive conditions, PTSD, and eating disorders. Methodological limitations of study were noted. Pain is a chief complaint in primary care visits (Gatchel et al., 2014, 2017; Turk & Melzack, 2011), but persistent, intense pain is the cause of much morbidity, mental stress, and human suffering which motivates the afflicted in search of relief. Moreover, recent national survey data indicate that over 10% of the U.S. population experience profound or persistent pain (

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