Liao, XM; Chen, PY. 2011. Citation analysis of meta-analysis articles on posttraumatic stress disorder. CHINESE MEDICAL JOURNAL 124 (7): 1088-1093

[Eugene Garfield]

Liao, XM; Chen, PY. 2011. Citation analysis of meta-analysis articles on 
posttraumatic stress disorder. CHINESE MEDICAL JOURNAL 124 (7): 1088-1093.

Author Full Name(s): Liao Xi-ming; Chen Ping-yan
Language: English
Document Type: Article

Author Keywords: meta-analysis; posttraumatic stress disorder; bibliometric 
analysis
KeyWords Plus: CONTROLLED CLINICAL-TRIALS; TRAUMA-EXPOSED ADULTS; 
HIPPOCAMPAL VOLUME; EFFECT-SIZES; PTSD; SURVIVORS; JOURNALS; 
PHARMACOTHERAPY; INTERVENTION; PUBLICATIONS

Abstract: Background In the past two decades enormously scientific 
researches on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been undertaken and 
many related meta-analyses have been published. Citation analysis was used to 
get comprehensive perspectives of meta-analysis articles (MA articles) on 
PTSD for the purpose of facilitating the researchers, physicians and policy-
makers to understand the PTSD.
Methods MA articles on PTSD in any languages from January 1980 to March 
2009 were included if they presented meta-analytical methods and received at 
least one citation recorded in the Web of Science (WoS). Whereas studies, in 
which any effect sizes of PTSD were not distinguished from other psychological 
disorders, were excluded. Citations to and by identified MA articles were 
documented basing on records in WoS. Citation analysis was used to examine 
distribution patterns of characteristics and citation impact of MA articles on 
PTSD. Canonical analysis was used to explore the relationship between the 
characteristics of MA articles and citation impact.
Results Thirty-four MA articles published during 1998 and 2008 were identified 
and revealed multiple study topics on PTSD: 10 (29.4%) were about 
epidemiology, 13 (38.2%) about treatment or intervention, 6 (17.6%) about 
pathophysiology or neurophysiology or neuroendocrine, 3 (8.8%) about 
childhood and 2 (5.9%) about psychosocial adversity. Two articles cited most 
frequently with 456 and 145 counts were published in Journal of Consulting and 
Clinical Psychology by Brewin (2000) and Psychological Bulletin by Ozer (2003), 
respectively. Mean cited count was 7.48 +/- 10.56 and mean age (year 2009 
minus article publication year) was (4.24 +/- 2.91) years. They had been cited 
approximately by 67 disciplines and by authors from 42 countries or territories. 
Characteristics of meta-analysis highly correlated with citation impact and 
reflected by canonical correlation of 0.899 (P<0.000 01).
Conclusions The age of MA articles predicted their citation impact. Citation 
analysis would serve to capture the global perspectives and topics of MA 
articles on PTSD. Chin Med J 2011;124(7):1088-1093

Addresses: [Liao Xi-ming; Chen Ping-yan] So Med Univ, Sch Publ Hlth & Trop 
Med, Dept Biostat, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong, Peoples R China
Reprint Address: Chen, PY, So Med Univ, Sch Publ Hlth & Trop Med, Dept 
Biostat, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong, Peoples R China.

E-mail Address: chenpy99 at 126.com
ISSN: 0366-6999
DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0366-6999.2011.07.025
PDF: http://www.cmj.org/periodical/PdfList.asp?id=LW201141583804202754