{
  "abstract": "Background Herbal medicine is widely used as an adjunctive treatment for schizophrenia, but evidence remains limited. Aims To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of East Asian herbal medicine combined with antipsychotics in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Methods Ten sources including MEDLINE, EMBASE and CENTRAL were searched up to January 2025 for randomised controlled trials comparing East Asian herbal medicine combined with antipsychotics versus antipsychotics alone. Primary outcome was the overall symptom scores (PANSS/BPRS). Secondary outcomes included adverse events, negative and positive symptom scores, response rates, social function, quality of life, recurrence, and adherence. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2, and evidence certainty using GRADE. Results 270 studies comprising 26,053 participants were included. East Asian herbal medicine combined with standard-dose antipsychotics improved overall symptom (SMD − 1.38, 95% CI − 1.60 to −1.17; 181 studies, 18,569 participants; low-certainty evidence) and reduced adverse events (RR 0.56, 95% CI 0.51–0.62; 92 studies, 8983 participants; low-certainty evidence) versus antipsychotics alone. East Asian herbal medicine combined with low-dose antipsychotics versus standard-dose antipsychotics showed symptom improvement (SMD − 0.92, 95% CI − 1.54– − 0.29; 25 studies, 1907 participants; low-certainty evidence) and fewer adverse events (RR 0.44, 95% CI 0.34–0.58; 6 studies, 450 participants; low-certainty evidence). Conclusion Low-certainty evidence suggests that East Asian herbal medicine as an adjunct to antipsychotics may improve symptoms and reduce adverse events in schizophrenia. However, most studies raised concerns regarding the risk of bias, and potential publication bias was suspected. Results require cautious interpretation and further high-quality studies are needed.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "NeuroGlymph Imaging and Modulation Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine",
    "KM Science Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine",
    "Department of Oriental Neuropsychiatry, College of Korean Medicine, Dong-eui University",
    "Department of Oriental Neuropsychiatry, College of Korean Medicine, Dongguk University",
    "Department of Korean Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University",
    "Department of Korean Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Dong-eui University",
    "Department of Artificial Intelligence, Dong-eui University",
    "Department of Neuropsychiatry, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 13,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yujin Choi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Pyung-Wha Kim"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Chan-Young Kwon"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Min-Jae Kim"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Kyoung-Eun Lee"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Suha Lee"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Suyeon Hwang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Ji-Won Kim"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Ji-Won Oh"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Hye-Li Jeon"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Yunna Kim"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Boram Lee"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Seung-Hun Cho"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ehhpjs1qqp3mz.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1038/s41537-026-00781-8",
  "fulltext_url": "https://doi.org/10.1038/s41537-026-00781-8",
  "id": "ehhpjs1qqp3mz",
  "issns": [
    "2754-6993"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1038/s41537-026-00781-8",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "lcc",
      "RC435-571"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2738|Schizophrenia research and treatment"
    ]
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  "openalex": "W7167814704",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41537-026-00781-8_reference.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-07-01",
  "publisher": "Nature Portfolio",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ehhpjs1qqp3mz.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T13:46:03Z",
      "native_id": "791d9bd1806f40dba2daef1d1a66ba1e",
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      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1038/s41537-026-00781-8"
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2738|Schizophrenia research and treatment",
      "subfield": "psychiatry"
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  "title": "East Asian herbal medicine as an adjunctive treatment for schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis",
  "title_text": "East Asian herbal medicine as an adjunctive treatment for schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T13:46:03Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ehhpjs1qqp3mz",
  "venue": "Schizophrenia",
  "versions": []
}