A bibliometric analysis of research on the application of just-in-time adaptive interventions in mental health
TL;DR
The application of JITAIs in mental health is developing rapidly and has become a hot topic in interdisciplinary research, however, research capacity is unevenly distributed, and international collaboration needs strengthening.
Abstract
Objective: To systematically review the current status, hotspots, knowledge structure, and evolutionary trends of research on just-in-time adaptive interventions (JITAIs) in the field of mental health using bibliometric methods, providing references for future research and practice. Methods: Literature related to JITAI and mental health was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database, covering the period from its inception to January 6, 2026. CiteSpace software was used to analyze publication trends, collaboration networks, co-citation clustering, and keywords of the 451 ultimately included articles, with the results visualized. Results: The annual publication volume has shown explosive growth since 2021, reaching a peak in 2025 (117 articles). The United States ranked 1st with 304 publications and a centrality of 0.59. The University of Michigan had the highest number of publications (51 articles), while the University of Southern California had the highest centrality (0.14) in the institutional collaboration network. Michael S. Businelle had the highest publication count (20 articles). Keyword clustering identified 14 core themes, including ecological momentary assessment, mental health, and weight management. The research trajectory has evolved from methodological innovations towards clinical applications and differentiated interventions for specific populations. Burst keyword analysis indicates that current research frontiers focus on ecological momentary interventions, micro-randomized trials, and data reliability validation. Combining clustering and burst keywords, research hotspots can be summarized into 3 main directions: methodological innovations centered on micro-randomized trials and reinforcement learning; clinical applications targeting emotional and behavioral issues; and differentiated interventions for specific populations and contexts. Conclusion: The application of JITAIs in mental health is developing rapidly and has become a hot topic in interdisciplinary research. However, research capacity is unevenly distributed, and international collaboration needs strengthening. Future efforts should focus on cross-regional and interdisciplinary collaboration, deepen validation of intervention effectiveness, ensure data reliability, and establish ethical guidelines to promote the field towards precise, scalable, and responsible applications.