A Bibliometric Review of Depression Among Cancer Patients in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Objective Depression is an important comorbidity among cancer patients, particularly in resource-limited settings. This bibliometric review aims to map and describe the scientific landscape of approaches to understanding depression among cancer patients in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). Methods A bibliometric analysis of research on depression among cancer patients was conducted using data from Scopus. The quantitative bibliometric analysis was performed using the Bibliometrix R package and the VOSviewer platform. The bibliometric analysis analyzed the publication output, keyword co-occurrence to profile publication trends, research hotspots, leading authors, countries, institutions, and collaboration networks. Results The analysis identified 173 eligible publications. The output consistently increased after 2018. Overall, the highest number of publications were produced by India (n = 42), Ethiopia (n = 32), and the United States (n = 26). The dominant research themes included studies of breast cancer (n = 38), depression scale (n = 46), and data (n = 58). The co-authorship analysis identified distinct collaborative clusters while the keyword analysis identified four major thematic clusters: methodological aspects, clinical assessment, cancer type and treatment dimensions, and evidence synthesis & interventions. The temporal analysis revealed an evolution from predominantly basic studies of prevalence, toward increased sophistication in research on predictors and interventions. Conclusion This review highlights the growing research interest in depression among cancer patients in LMICs, while geographic and thematic gaps remain. While breast cancer dominates literature, other prevalent cancers remain understudied. Future research must focus on developing culturally adapted screening tools, implementing context-specific interventions, and increasing international collaboration to address the psycho-oncological needs of cancer patients in low-resource settings.