EVOLUTION AND FRONTIERS OF CYBERCHONDRIA RESEARCH: A BIBLIOMETRIC REVIEW BASED ON CITESPACE

This study employs CiteSpace to map the evolutionary trajectory and intellectual structure of cyberchondria research from 2016 to 2026. A bibliometric analysis was conducted on 348 core documents retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection, focusing on publication trends, collaboration networks, and citation bursts. Findings delineate a three-stage evolution: early conceptualization within clinical psychology, a COVID-19-driven surge, and current reconceptualization as a digital behavioral addiction. A critical "eHealth Literacy Paradox" is identified, wherein higher digital literacy may paradoxically exacerbate anxiety due to interactions with commercial recommendation algorithms. Structurally, the field remains highly fragmented, separating early clinical psychiatry cohorts from recent information systems and algorithmic research clusters. The results suggest that cyberchondria is a product of both individual cognitive bias and platform algorithmic alienation. To address current structural fragmentation, future research must dismantle disciplinary barriers and foster interdisciplinary collaboration between psychiatrists and algorithm engineers. Transitioning from individual-centric interventions to the ethical optimization of digital health architectures is essential for constructing a resilient and inclusive health information ecosystem.