Mapping the Academic and Global Research Impact of Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Psychiatry: A 25-Year Scientometric Study

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has emerged as a significant neuromodulatory intervention for treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders. Despite its expanding clinical applications, a comprehensive assessment of the scientific landscape informing VNS use in psychiatry remains limited. This review maps the global academic research impact of VNS in psychiatry through a 25-year scientometric analysis of the 100 most cited original research articles indexed in Scopus between 2000 and 2025. The analysis examined publication trends, author networks, institutional and geographic output, citation metrics, and thematic concentration. The field demonstrated a 6.21% annual growth rate, with publication peaks in 2005, 2007, and 2020. The selected articles received 4,693 total citations (mean: 82.48), authored by 594 individuals across 35 journals, with the United States dominating both output and citation impact. Treatment-resistant depression emerged as the dominant thematic focus. This review provides a critical academic roadmap for research prioritization, faculty development, and curricular advancement in neuromodulation, with direct relevance to academic psychiatrists, educators, and departmental leaders.