Abstract: Objective Using literature metrology, scientific literature in the field of depression models in animals was analyzed to better understand the development trends and hot topics in this field. Methods We obtained publications on depression and animal models from 2013 to 2022 from the Web of Science core set database. CiteSpace 6. 1 R1(64-bit) Basic was used to analyze annual publications, countries, institutions, authors, and keywords related to this field. Results A total of 1000 articles were included in this study. From 2013 to 2022, the number of articles published increased gradually and then stabilized. In terms of the number of articles, the United States had the most published articles (256) .Wegener Gregers was the most influential author in the field with 23 published articles. Conclusions The field focuses on signaling pathways and therapeutic approaches to determine the pathogenesis of depression and better treatments. This study provides a visual analysis of trends in depression research to help researchers keep up with the latest developments.