Bibliometric Analysis on Antenatal Depression: A Comparison of Research between Web of Science and China National Knowledge Infrastructure

Background: Antenatal depression (AD) has adverse effects on mothers and children. While pregnant women in China are given less attention in terms of their mental health, in contrast, AD has resulted in increased interest at the international level. Methods: This study reviewed 1881 studies on AD from the Web of Science (WOS) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), using the bibliometric method in CiteSpace, to systematically analyze the research status, research hotspot, and potential trends of research on AD in China and abroad. Results: The results showed that: (1) There are 511 papers from the United States, followed by 210 from England, 136 from Australia, and 116 from Canada. Furthermore, articles from these four countries have the highest influence. And that the quantity and influence of papers published in China are relatively low; (2) Institution with the most publications is located in England, and those with the most influence are located in Australia and the United States; there are few Chinese institutions that publish on AD; (3) Literature on WOS clustered 7 hot topics, while documents on CNKI clustered 6, with similarities and differences; (4) With the passage of time, the researches of AD on CNKI gradually focused on the investigation and intervention of specific groups, while researches on WOS tend to consistently explore the biological and psychological mechanism and variety of intervention measures. Conclusions: It is the goal of China's research to further explore the mechanisms and influencing factors of AD in order to better implement diversified interventions and improve the quality of life for mothers with AD and their offspring.