Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation for PTSD in World Trade Center responders

NIH-funded · Active since 2021

A feasibility and acceptability study of daily, non-invasive auricular vagus nerve stimulation to reduce PTSD symptoms among 9/11 responders, twenty years after the attacks.

Changes in clinical scores from baseline to follow-up for all participants in the transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation study.International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2026 · CC BY 4.0 (opens in new tab)

Overview

Posttraumatic stress disorder remains the most prevalent mental health diagnosis among first responders to the World Trade Center attacks, and the trauma-focused therapies with the strongest evidence carry high dropout. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a non-invasive, self-administered alternative that engages the same autonomic pathways.

Funded by a NIOSH award (2021 to 2023) led by Rebecca Schwartz and Theodoros Zanos, the study began with focus groups on responders' mental health needs and their views of the device, published in 2022, and proceeded to a daily stimulation protocol whose adherence and clinical outcomes were published in 2026.

Status: Active since 2021
Program: NIH-funded
Funding: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Publications: 2, latest 2026
Team: 2 members

Awards

Assessing the feasibility and acceptability of using non-invasive transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation to reduce PTSD symptoms in WTC responders
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health · $700K · 2021 to 2023
Rebecca Schwartz and Theodoros Zanos
U01OH012050 (opens in new tab)

Adherence to the daily stimulation protocol across the study period. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2026 (opens in new tab) · CC BY 4.0

From the papers

Published figures

Figures reproduced from the papers behind this project.

Each panel keeps its original source and license.

Publications

Papers

View in the index

Recent

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public HealthMar 2026

Effects of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in World Trade Center Responders: A Feasibility and Acceptability Study

Earlier

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public HealthApr 2022

Understanding 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

People

On this project

Theodoros Zanos, PhD

Professor & AVP

Shubham Debnath, PhD

Senior Research Scientist

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