Research Trends of Drama Therapy in Mental Health : A Comprehensive Bibliometric analysis

<title>Abstract</title> <p> <bold>Background:</bold> Drama therapy is an expressive art–based therapeutic approach grounded in theatrical processes that has evolved as a mental health intervention over the past eight decades. Although its application has expanded across clinical and educational context, a systematic mapping of its scholarly development and knowledge structure remains limited. This study aimed to examine global research trends of drama therapy literature. <bold>Methods:</bold> The current study employed a bibliometric and scientometric research design to examine global research trends in drama therapy literature indexed in Scopus database from 1949 to 2025.A total of 785 documents were retrieved. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel, VOSviewer (version 1.6.20), and Biblioshiny (Bibliometrix R package, version 4.2). Bibliometric indicators, co-authorship patterns, keyword co-occurrence, and author productivity (Lotka’s Law) were examined. The dataset comprised 785 documents published across 368 sources, with an annual growth rate of 5.88%. Publications from the 2020s account for 49.4% of the total output. The University of Haifa led institutional contributions with 41 publications. Bradford's Law analysis confirmed strong concentration in three core journals. A logistic growth model projected a saturation point of approximately 4,929 publications around the year 2039. Keyword co-occurrence identified mental health, psychodrama, dementia, trauma, and digital interventions as the principal thematic clusters. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Drama therapy is in an accelerated growth phase, with substantial scholarly expansion expected over the next two decades. Research output is concentrated among a small number of prolific investigators and institutions, predominantly in high-income countries, highlighting persistent geographic disparities. Emerging themes include tele-drama therapy, virtual reality-based applications, and interventions across diverse clinical populations. Future research should prioritize large-scale randomized controlled trials, standardized outcome measurement, and meaningful inclusion of researchers and participants from low- and middle-income countries. </p>