[Thirty years of research in suicidology in France: A bibliometric study]

Abstract

Objectives: To study the quantitative evolution of research in suicidology in France for 30 years.

Methods: Analysis of the Web of Science database; identification of publications between 1989 and 2018 with at least one author with an affiliation in France and focusing on suicidal behavior and self-inflicted acts.

Results: In total, 1188 publications were identified. Over 30 years, the number of publications has been multiplied by 8.8 (particularly since 2005), a growth higher than those published in psychiatry and science in France, and in suicidology worldwide. France has contributed 3.3% of global publications since 2014 (ranks 8th in the world, recently outnumbered by South Korea and China) and 10.6% of European publications (ranks 3rd after the United Kingdom and Germany). The number of international co-publications has risen sharply over the last 30 years (44.9% between 2014 and 2018), notably with the USA, Canada and Spain. Use of English has increased from 37 to 78% of publications. Inserm, and the Universities and Academic hospitals of Paris and Montpellier are among the first institutions in terms of number of publications. Twenty-one of the 30 most published authors are men. The mention of the origin of the financing of the publications is increasing but remains limited.

Conclusion: Suicidology has been a dynamic field of research in France for the last fifteen years, with a growing international visibility, but there is also room for improvement. An effort remains to be made to improve women's place in these publications.

Keywords: Automutilation; Bibliometrics; Bibliométrie; Self-harm; Suicide; Suicide attempt; Tentative de suicide; Web Of science; Web of Science.