Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder After Road Traffic Crashes: A Bibliometric and Science-Mapping Analysis
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Objective: The aim of this study is to treat road traffic crashes (RTCs) as a distinct area of trauma and thereby to present a field-specific bibliometric analysis of research on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) associated with road traffic accidents. Method: A bibliometric analysis was conducted on 790 peer-reviewed articles indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection between 1991 and 2025 (n = 790; 41,585 citations; h-index = 104). Results: The development of the field can be characterized by an initial foundational period (1991–1999), followed by expansion between 2000 and 2014, and subsequent stabilization during 2015–2022. A recent decline in publication output (2023–2025) was observed, although this should be interpreted cautiously due to publication and indexing delays. Scientific influence is dominated by a small group of key authors, while collaboration is primarily concentrated among researchers from English-speaking countries. Five major research themes were identified, including diagnosis, risk factors, treatment, rehabilitation, and global epidemiology. Conclusion: The RTC–PTSD literature is broad but fragmented. A clear mismatch exists between the geographical distribution of research production and the global burden of road trauma, while connections between trauma research and transport-safety remain limited.
DOI: 10.18863/pgy.1959216
Author: Derya Azık Özkan
Institution: Police Academy
Language: Turkish
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7214533500