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Objective. Minimizing acute postsurgical pain (APSP) remains a challenge, despite extensive research about it. This study comprehensively analyzed the literature on APSP to assess how the field has developed and where it may go in the future. Methods. Studies on APSP indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection and published from 2012 to 2021 were assessed for eligibility. Data from included studies were analyzed using CiteSpace, Python, and Microsoft. Results. Analysis of 5,236 publications on APSP showed that the number of articles per year has increased linearly. The United States leads other countries in terms of the number and centrality of publications. Cocitation analysis suggests that the field focused earlier on the incidence and risk factors of APSP, shifting later to a focus on the reduction and management of adverse outcomes due to APSP. The top-ranked keyword cluster during the study period was short-term outcomes (#0), followed by risk factors (#1). The strongest burst occurred for the keyword combination, followed by multimodal analgesia. The most recent burst occurred for the keywords regional analgesia, opioid use, erector spinae plane block, and infiltration. Conclusions. Hotspots in APSP research since 2012 have been incidence, risk factors, and control of negative outcomes. Future research is likely to concentrate on the use of opioids and technological innovations in regional anesthesia. Our findings may help APSP researchers and clinicians understand their field, optimize clinical practice, and plan future research.

An abstract is unavailable. This article is available as a PDF only.

An abstract is unavailable. This article is available as a PDF only.

The evolving research on the interactions between pain and mental disorders underscores the critical role of neuroimmune interplay in shaping pain perception and mental illness progression. This study employs bibliometric analysis to scrutinize the research landscape, identify emerging hotspots, and forecast future directions. A systematic review of literature from 2014 to 2023 was conducted using CiteSpace software for co‐citation analysis, keyword co‐occurrence, and burst detection to identify research hotspots and trends. The study examined developmental trends in pain and psychiatric disorder research, highlighting major research institutions and key themes. It unveils pivotal contributors and collaborative networks, showing significant growth in recent years. Emphasis is placed on neuroinflammation and neuroimmunomodulation interactions with mental illnesses. Keyword and thematic clustering analyses highlight the roles of microglial activation, inflammatory mediators, neurotransmitters, and emotional regulation processes. This study paves the way for future inquiries into neuroimmune mechanisms, the development of personalized treatment strategies, and an interdisciplinary approach to enrich our understanding of the biopsychosocial model in these conditions. Future studies should delve deeper into the molecular intricacies of these interactions to develop more effective therapeutic strategies, aiming to enhance patients' quality of life.