A bibliometric analysis of research on empathy for pain

Abstract

Empathy for pain encompasses the processes of perceiving, understanding, and responding to the pain of others, playing a crucial role in social interaction and individual development. The increasing interest in this field has led to a surge in related publications; however, the overall quantity and quality of these works remain uncertain. To address this issue, we conducted a bibliometric analysis of research on empathy for pain. Our study meticulously examined 479 publications to provide a comprehensive analysis of bibliographic elements such as annual publication trends, authorship, country of origin, institutional affiliations, journals, and keywords. Our findings indicate that, although there has been a rise in research on empathy for pain in recent years, the volume remains insufficient and is predominantly concentrated in a few countries, authors, and institutions. Additionally, current research mainly focuses on four primary areas: perception, pain, empathy, and emotion. We assert that future research will likely explore the relationship between EEG measurements and empathy for pain to determine if such measurements can effectively quantify empathy, thereby enhancing clinical management.