Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40309502›Full record

ReviewFrontiers in psychiatry2025

A bibliometric study for global hotspots and trends in animal-assisted interventions (1983-2023).

Xiaowei Feng, Shanguang Zhao, Dong Zhang, Qing Yi, Yanlan Chen, Xinding Zhang

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Frontiers in psychiatry, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Xiaowei FengFaculty of Physical Education/Faculty of Football, Hainan Normal University, Hainan, China.
Shanguang ZhaoExpert Workstation in Sichuan Province, Chengdu Jincheng College, Chengdu, China.
Dong ZhangDepartment of Sports Studies, Faculty of Educational Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Qing YiFaculty of Sports and Exercise Science, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Yanlan ChenFaculty of Education, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Xinding ZhangFaculty of Physical Education/Faculty of Football, Hainan Normal University, Hainan, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: As a therapeutic approach, Animal-Assisted Intervention (AAI) has gained increasing recognition for enhancing both psychological and physical health. However, bibliometric studies in this field remain scarce. Methods: This study aims to analyze AAI-related research from 1983 to 2023 using bibliometric methods. It examines sources of literature, core journals, highly cited documents, country and institutional distribution, prolific authors, and high-frequency keywords while tracking the evolution of research themes in AAI. A thematic search using the Boolean operator "OR" and AAI-related keywords in the Web of Science database yielded 405 articles, and data mining and visualization of these results were performed. Results: The findings reveal a substantial increase in the number of published articles and citations over the past decade, indicating a rising research interest in this field. The United States and Purdue University have played a leading role in this area. Currently, AAI research is shifting from basic studies to intervention strategies targeting specific populations and diseases. Future research trends may include enhanced international collaboration, standardization of research methods, and the development of more targeted interventions. Conclusion: These findings provide researchers, funding agencies, and policymakers with scientific insights and recommendations for future research directions in AAI.

Indexed as

animal-assisted interventionsbibliometricsnonpharmacological therapiesresearch trendsvulnerable groups

Identifiers

PMID40309502
PMCPMC12040960

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.