Condition · Evidence Hub
Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Schizophrenia
Does vagus nerve stimulation help with schizophrenia? 17 human studies have investigated VNS for schizophrenia, including 2 systematic reviews, 4 RCTs, and 11 controlled trials, published between 2007 and 2026, with 10 published since 2022. Studies use implanted (iVNS), transcutaneous auricular (taVNS), and transcutaneous cervical (tcVNS) 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 · 4 RCTs · 11 controlled trials
Evidence by Tier
strongest → weakest
- 2Systematic reviews & meta-analyses
- 4Randomised controlled trials
- 11Controlled clinical trials
Stimulation Method
- 9iVNS
- 4taVNS
- 4tcVNS
Research Momentum
10 of 17 studies (59%) published since 2022 — an actively growing evidence base.
The studies
17 studies · strongest evidence firstAssessment of Noninvasive Brain Stimulation Interventions for Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis
Tseng et al. · JAMA psychiatry · 2022 · n = 2,211
systematic reviewstcVNSNon-invasive brain stimulation for negative symptoms in schizophrenia: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Osoegawa et al. · Schizophrenia research · 2018 · n = 1,272
systematic reviewstcVNSEffect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on the improvement of cognitive function in older patients with schizophrenia
Xiang et al. · General Psychiatry · 2026 · n = 51
RCTstaVNSEfficacy and safety of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation for patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia with predominantly negative symptoms: a randomized clinical trial and efficacy sensitivity biomarkers
Cui et al. · Molecular psychiatry · 2025 · n = 50
RCTstaVNSTreatment trials for negative symptoms in schizophrenia
Glenthøj et al. · Current opinion in psychiatry · 2025
RCTsiVNSTranscutaneous noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) in the treatment of schizophrenia: a bicentric randomized controlled pilot study
Hasan et al. · European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience · 2015
RCTstaVNSPrenatal electroacupuncture modulates maternal-fetal immune activation via a brain-to-splenic signal
Zhang et al. · Cell reports · 2025
controlled trialsiVNSNeural signatures of emotional biases predict clinical outcomes in difficult-to-treat depression
Fennema et al. · Research directions. Depression · 2024
controlled trialsiVNSFunctional Connectivity Analysis of Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation (tVNS) Using Magnetoencephalography (MEG)
Keatch et al. · IEEE transactions on neural systems and rehabilitation engineering : a publication of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society · 2023
controlled trialstaVNSSelf-Regulatory Neuronal Mechanisms and Long-Term Challenges in Schizophrenia Treatment
Markiewicz-Gospodarek et al. · Brain sciences · 2023
controlled trialsiVNSUnderstanding the interoception in schizophrenia through the window of Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Nayok et al. · Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews · 2022
controlled trialsiVNSModern neurosurgical techniques for psychiatric disorders
De Salles et al. · Progress in brain research · 2022
controlled trialsiVNS[Interictal psychosis of epilepsy]
de Toffol et al. · L'Encephale · 2020
controlled trialsiVNSElectroconvulsive Therapy and Other Neuromodulation Techniques for the Treatment of Psychosis
Maley et al. · Child and adolescent psychiatric clinics of North America · 2019
controlled trialsiVNSCould vagus nerve stimulation target hippocampal hyperactivity to improve cognition in schizophrenia?
Smucny et al. · Frontiers in psychiatry · 2015
controlled trialsiVNS[Non-invasive brain stimulation for treatment of schizophrenic psychoses]
Hasan et al. · Der Nervenarzt · 2015
controlled trialstcVNSBrain stimulation for the treatment of psychiatric disorders
George et al. · Current opinion in psychiatry · 2007
controlled trialstcVNS