Condition · Evidence Hub
Vagus Nerve Stimulation for PTSD
Does vagus nerve stimulation help with ptsd? 26 human studies have investigated VNS for ptsd, including 2 systematic reviews, 18 RCTs, and 6 controlled trials, published between 2012 and 2026, with 10 published since 2022. Studies use transcutaneous auricular (taVNS), transcutaneous cervical (tcVNS), and implanted (iVNS) stimulation. Findings vary by study design and population; the studies below are ranked by evidence strength so you can weigh the research directly.
2 systematic reviews · 18 RCTs · 6 controlled trials
Evidence by Tier
strongest → weakest
- 2Systematic reviews & meta-analyses
- 18Randomised controlled trials
- 6Controlled clinical trials
Stimulation Method
- 15taVNS
- 8tcVNS
- 3iVNS
Research Momentum
10 of 26 studies (38%) published since 2022.
The studies
26 studies · strongest evidence firstTranscutaneous vagal nerve stimulation for the treatment of trauma- and stressor-related disorders: systematic review of randomised controlled studies
Benzouak et al. · BJPsych Open · 2025
systematic reviewstaVNSVagus nerve stimulation in psychiatry: a systematic review of the available evidence
Cimpianu et al. · Journal of neural transmission (Vienna, Austria : 1996) · 2017
systematic reviewsiVNSEffects of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in World Trade Center Responders: A Feasibility and Acceptability Study
Debnath et al. · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · 2026 · n = 32
RCTstaVNSTranscutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Does Not Accelerate Fear Extinction
D'Agostini et al. · Psychophysiology · 2025 · n = 79
RCTstaVNSReady for translation: non-invasive auricular vagus nerve stimulation inhibits psychophysiological indices of stimulus-specific fear and facilitates responding to repeated exposure in phobic individuals
Szeska et al. · Translational Psychiatry · 2025 · n = 32
RCTstaVNSUnderstanding Mental Health Needs and Gathering Feedback on Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation as a Potential PTSD Treatment among 9/11 Responders Living with PTSD Symptoms 20 Years Later: A Qualitative Approach
Schwartz et al. · International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022
RCTstaVNSNoninvasive Cervical Vagal Nerve Stimulation Alters Brain Activity During Traumatic Stress in Individuals With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Wittbrodt et al. · Psychosomatic Medicine · 2021 · n = 22
RCTstcVNSTranscutaneous Cervical Vagus Nerve Stimulation Inhibits the Reciprocal of the Pulse Transit Time's Responses to Traumatic Stress in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Gazi et al. · Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Annual International Conference · 2021
RCTstcVNSPromoting long-term inhibition of human fear responses by non-invasive transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation during extinction training
Szeska et al. · Scientific Reports · 2020 · n = 80
RCTstaVNSTranscutaneous cervical vagal nerve stimulation reduces sympathetic responses to stress in posttraumatic stress disorder: A double-blind, randomized, sham controlled trial
Gurel et al. · Neurobiology of Stress · 2020 · n = 25
RCTstcVNSTranscutaneous vagal nerve stimulation blocks stress-induced activation of Interleukin-6 and interferon-gamma in posttraumatic stress disorder: A double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial
Bremner et al. · Brain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health · 2020 · n = 25
RCTstcVNSNon-invasive vagal nerve stimulation decreases brain activity during trauma scripts
Wittbrodt et al. · Brain Stimulation · 2020 · n = 19
RCTstcVNSApplication of Noninvasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation to Stress-Related Psychiatric Disorders
Bremner et al. · Journal of personalized medicine · 2020
RCTsiVNSThe effect of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation on fear generalization and subsequent fear extinction
Burger et al. · Neurobiology of Learning and Memory · 2019 · n = 58
RCTstaVNSVagus nerve stimulation as a tool for enhancing extinction in exposure-based therapies
Noble et al. · Psychopharmacology · 2019
RCTstaVNSTranscutaneous vagus nerve stimulation and extinction of prepared fear: A conceptual non-replication
Burger et al. · Scientific Reports · 2018 · n = 85
RCTstaVNSMixed evidence for the potential of non-invasive transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation to improve the extinction and retention of fear
Burger et al. · Behaviour Research and Therapy · 2017 · n = 42
RCTstaVNSThe effects of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation on conditioned fear extinction in humans
Burger et al. · Neurobiology of Learning and Memory · 2016 · n = 31
RCTstaVNSEffects of yoga on the autonomic nervous system, gamma-aminobutyric-acid, and allostasis in epilepsy, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder
Streeter et al. · Medical hypotheses · 2012
RCTstaVNSA pilot study of brain correlates of long-term treatment with transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation in posttraumatic stress disorder
Bremner et al. · Journal of Affective Disorders Reports · 2026 · n = 11
controlled trialstcVNSVagus nerve stimulation therapy for treatment-resistant PTSD
Powers et al. · Brain Stimulation · 2025 · n = 9
controlled trialsiVNSPreliminary evidence of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation effects on sleep in veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder
Bottari et al. · Journal of Sleep Research · 2024 · n = 13
controlled trialstaVNSEffect of transcutaneous cervical vagus nerve stimulation on declarative and working memory in patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A pilot study
Choudhary et al. · Journal of Affective Disorders · 2023 · n = 15
controlled trialstcVNSTranscutaneous Cervical Vagal Nerve Stimulation in Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A Pilot Study of Effects on PTSD Symptoms and Interleukin-6 Response to Stress
Bremner et al. · Journal of Affective Disorders Reports · 2021 · n = 25
controlled trialstcVNSNon-invasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation Effects on Hyperarousal and Autonomic State in Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and History of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Preliminary Evidence
Lamb et al. · Frontiers in Medicine · 2017 · n = 22
controlled trialstaVNS