A method for assessing a patient's suitability for receiving a vagus nerve stimulation therapy includes receiving a criterion regarding the patient's suitability for receiving a vagus nerve stimulation therapy; controlling a stimulation device to provide stimulation to a vagus nerve of the patient; receiving, from a sensor, response data indicative of a physiological response of the patient to the stimulation of the vagus nerve; and determining the patient's suitability for receiving the vagus nerve stimulation therapy based on the criterion and the physiological response of the patient to the stimulation.