[Monitoring the impact on international literature of scientific production of Italian researchers, in the disciplines of "psychiatry" and "psychology." The period of 1995-1999 compared with the period of 1985-1989].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this paper is to present the results of a citation analysis concerned with the impact on the international literature of Italian researchers in psychiatry and psychology and of sub-fields, within these two disciplines, in 1995-1999 compared to 1985-1989.


METHODS
We used a database prepared by the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) that included all papers, with at least one Italian author, working in Italy, which appeared in two periods (1995-1999 and 1985-1989) in psychiatric or psychological journals listed in Current Contents. A citation analysis concerning the following years, up to 1999, was performed.


RESULTS
In 1995-1999 the most cited researchers were those involved in clinical psychology, psychiatry and psychopharmacology research. Neuropsychology, which dominated the period 1985-1989, underwent a clear-cut decline.


CONCLUSIONS
Citation analysis, concerning relatively short periods of time (five years), appears to be a very helpful tool for monitoring the development of scientific research in specific disciplines and the trend of the scientific production of researchers.
Tansella
M
M
Dipartimento di Medicina e Sanità Pubblica, Sezione di Psichiatria, Università di Verona, Ospedale Policlinico, Piazzale L.A. Scuro, 37134 Verona. michele.tansella@univr.it
Fava
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GA
D015706:Bibliometrics; D007558:Italy; D011570:Psychiatry; D011584:Psychology; D011643:Publishing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012106:Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
Monitorare l'impatto sulla letteratura internazionale della produzione scientifica dei ricercatori italiani, nelle discipline "psichiatria" e"psicologia". Quinquennio 1995-1999 e confronto con il 1985-1989.