A Bibliometric Study on Second-generation Antipsychotic Drugs in the Asia-Pacific Region

Abstract

In this review, we analyzed the status and changes in the research on second-generation (atypical) antipsychotic drugs in the Asia-Pacific region (i.e., Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Australia). We also performed a bibliometric study of the literature in this region on atypical antipsychotic drugs (e.g., clozapine, risperidone, olanzapine, ziprasidone, quetiapine, sertindole, aripiprazole, paliperidone, amisulpride, zotepine, asenapine, iloperidone, lurasidone, perospirone, and blonanserin). We applied bibliometric indicators of production and dispersion (i.e., Price's law on the increase of scientific literature and Bradford's law, respectively). We also calculated the participation index of different countries. The data were also correlated with relevant social and health data from the Asia-Pacific region (e.g., the per capita gross domestic product and total per capita expenditure on health and gross domestic expenditure on research and development). All data are discussed together. We also analyzed the different aspects among the six countries in the region. © 2014.