title: Analysis of mental health research in the Islamic Republic of Iran over 3 decades: a scientometric study.
abstract: This study described the characteristics of mental health research from the Islamic Republic of Iran published from 1973-2002. Research articles in psychiatry, psychology and neuroscience published in local or international journals were drawn from IranPsych, a national database of research in mental health and related disciplines. Of 3113 articles, 21.8% appeared in international journals, but there was international collaboration among the authors in only 2.3%. There was a marked increase in the number of publications over time, especially in the last 5 years. Analysis of research areas showed a proportionate rise in neuroscience research and a decline in mental health service research. Our study provides an empirical basis for policy-making and strategy planning in the nation's mental health research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. vsharifi@sina.tums.ac.ir
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sharifi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rahimi-Movaghar
authors.forename: M-R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Goodarzi
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Izadian
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farhoudian
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mansouri
authors.forename: A-A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Nejatisafa
mesh_terms: D015706:Bibliometrics; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D016206:Databases, Bibliographic; D003906:Developing Countries; D006285:Health Planning; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D008603:Mental Health; D009488:Neurosciences / Q000639:trends; D010506:Periodicals as Topic / Q000639:trends*; D011050:Policy Making; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000639:trends*; D011584:Psychology / Q000639:trends; D011643:Publishing / Q000639:trends*; D012106:Research / Q000639:trends*; D012107:Research Design; D012109:Research Support as Topic