SynthesisBMC psychiatry2026
Electrical vestibular nerve stimulation as a novel therapeutic approach for insomnia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC psychiatry, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundInsomnia affects over 850 million adults globally, representing a significant public health burden. Current treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) and pharmacological interventions, face accessibility barriers and safety concerns, respectively. Electrical vestibular nerve stimulation (VeNS) has emerged as a promising non-invasive neuromodulation technique, leveraging connections between the vestibular system and sleep-regulating brain regions. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effect of VeNS on insomnia severity in adults with clinically significant insomnia.
methodsFollowing PRISMA guidelines, we systematically searched multiple databases up to July 19, 2025. Eligible studies included adults (≥ 18 years) with clinically significant insomnia (ISI ≥ 15) receiving transcutaneous VeNS versus sham stimulation. The primary outcome was the change in Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), a validated subjective measure scale. Secondary outcomes included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and quality of life measures, all assessed through self-reported instruments.
resultsThree randomized controlled trials encompassing 289 participants met the inclusion criteria. VeNS demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in insomnia severity compared to sham control (ISI mean difference: -3.65 [95% CI: -6.84, -0.46]). Secondary analysis revealed significant improvements in sleep quality (PSQI mean difference: -0.98 [95% CI: -1.88, -0.08]).
conclusionsVeNS demonstrated statistically significant improvements in insomnia and sleep quality. However, the findings should be interpreted cautiously given the small number of available trials, reliance on subjective outcome measures, considerable heterogeneity, and limited safety data. Larger standardized trials are needed to establish its clinical utility and optimal implementation. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.