Research Trends in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Allergic Diseases: A Bibliometric Analysis (1994–2025)

Abstract

Aim: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and allergic diseases research has expanded rapidly, yet its global structure and hotspots remain fragmented. This bibliometric analysis maps ADHD, allergic diseases, and asthma/atopy research to identify publication growth, influential sources, collaboration patterns, and emerging themes.Method: A Web of Science Core Collection search was conducted on 9 January 2026. English-language articles and reviews published between 1994 and 2025 were included, yielding a total of 244 records. Bibliometrix/Biblioshiny was used for descriptive indicators and thematic mapping, and VOSviewer for co-authorship, co-citation, and keyword co-occurrence networks. Keywords and thematic evolution analyses were applied to detect shifts in ADHD and allergic diseases topics over time.Results: The dataset comprised 244 publications across 168 sources and 1,306 authors (mean 6.32 authors/document), with 20.81% international co-authorship. Annual production increased markedly after 2015, peaking in 2021–2023. Source analyses showed concentration in a limited set of core journals, while co-citation patterns confirmed an interdisciplinary base spanning pediatrics, psychiatry, and allergy/immunology. Keyword mapping highlighted persistent links between ADHD and asthma, atopic dermatitis, and allergic rhinitis, alongside emerging interest in inflammation-related and life-course topics.Conclusion: ADHD–allergic diseases research is growing and increasingly interdisciplinary, with rising emphasis on mechanistic and inflammation-oriented themes. Future studies should prioritize longitudinal and causal designs and broaden international collaboration to strengthen clinical relevance.