Compulsivity and impulse control in behavioral addictions: A bibliometric and conceptual analysis of global research trends, thematic gaps, and future directions.

OBJECTIVE

Compulsive and addictive behaviors represent a growing public health concern, driven by the proliferation of digital technologies and evolving diagnostic classifications. This study aimed to map the global trajectory, collaborative networks, and conceptual structure of research on compulsivity and impulse control in nonsubstance behavioral addictions.

METHOD: A bibliometric and conceptual analysis was conducted on 1,591 peer-reviewed articles retrieved from Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed (1992-2025). Publication trends, geographic distribution, and coauthorship patterns were quantified using Microsoft Excel and VOSviewer, while thematic clusters were identified through keyword co-occurrence with a minimum threshold of five co-occurrences. Data cleaning was performed using Python, automating the removal of duplicates and inconsistencies. Additionally, Python's matplotlib and seaborn libraries were used to visualize publication trends over time.

RESULTS

The cognitive-behavioral paradigm emerged as dominant, with key concepts such as "impulsivity," "compulsive behavior," and "gambling" at the network's core. Neurobiological and sociocultural dimensions formed secondary clusters, whereas computational and transdiagnostic perspectives remained underrepresented. Country and author collaboration networks highlighted the United States and leading scholars (e.g., Potenza, Grant) as central hubs.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings reveal significant terminological fragmentation and thematic silos, underscoring the need for standardized vocabularies and interdisciplinary integration. This comprehensive overview provides actionable insights for researchers, clinicians, and policymakers to advance unified frameworks, foster inclusive collaborations, and guide future investigations in the field of behavioral addictions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).