Visual analysis of interventions and treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder in the military population over the past decade: a study based on the PubMed database.

Background

Research on PTSD treatment in military populations is expanding rapidly; it's important to identify key research priorities and emerging trends from a comprehensive perspective.

Objective

This study reviewed trends in intervention and treatment research on post-traumatic stress disorder (Peterson et al., 2023) in military populations over the past decade.

Methods

A comprehensive search was conducted in the PubMed database for English-language articles published between 2014 and 2024, using the keywords 'intervention or treatment,' 'PTSD,' and 'military.' Studies were included if they focused on PTSD interventions targeting military personnel or veterans. A total of 1,280 relevant articles were identified and included in the analysis. Bibliometric methods - such as co-occurrence analysis, keyword clustering, and burst detection - were combined with a qualitative narrative synthesis to explore publication patterns and research hotspots.

Results

Results showed steady growth in the number of publications and citations. The articles appeared in 327 journals, with the top 10 journals specialising in trauma, clinical psychology, psychiatry, and military medicine. The United States and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio were the most prolific contributors. Keyword clustering revealed major research themes, including Prolonged Exposure Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Virtual Reality. Burst word analysis highlighted emerging topics such as dual diagnosis and heart rate variability.

Conclusions

The analysis revealed strong international and inter-institutional collaborations, reflecting a geographically and culturally diverse research landscape. These findings also provide valuable insights into the current state and future directions of PTSD intervention research in military populations.