Use of Acupuncture In Children With Autistic Spectrum Disorder

July 13, 2006 updated by: The University of Hong Kong

Randomized Control Trial of Using Acupuncture In Children With Autistic Spectrum Disorder

This is a study of the efficacy of acupuncture in children with autism.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder with unknown etiology. ASD consisted of 3 core features: 1) disorder of language or communication; 2) disorder of social interaction; and 3) obsessive and stereotypic behavior.

Acupuncture had been practiced in China for over two millennia. In Traditional Chinese Acupuncture, nearly 400 acupoints on the body surface are interrelated to various functions. The approach in TCM, in sharp contrast to western medical concept, was a "holistic" approach with a philosophical background of balancing the "Yin-and-Yang". The main objective of TCM was to improve health of body and mind by deblocking the flow of "Qi" in the body. The pathophysiological basis of TCM aimed to improve "energy" or "body-flow" or "Qi" ["de-qui" in Chinese]. The effect of acupuncture was had been proven in animal and human studies to be due to direct neural stimulation, changes in neurotransmitters such as endorphin, immunological markers or endocrinological signals. Thus, acupuncture is especially effective in chronic disorders, especially neurological ones.

As there is no TCM concept of mental retardation or autism, we propose that ASD is part of the spectrum of the TCM concept of the "Four Delayed Syndrome" in children with "delay in motor skills, speech, hair and teeth eruption" according to TCM concept. Thus, we approach ASD according to TCM concept as part of the lower intelligence due to imbalance of "Heart meridian and Kidney meridian" (i.e. yin-yang imbalance) resulting in communication problem and "Liver meridian" (yin-yang imbalance) leading to behavioral problems.

Our objective is to use a different approach in looking at ASD and to assess the efficacy of TCM model in improving the functional status of these children. Specific acupoints corresponding to various organs and meridians were used for ASD. The organ and meridian concept in TCM model has been as a fundamental basis to improve the behavior, cognition and communicative ability in children with ASD.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment

30

Phase

  • Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Hong Kong
      • Hong Kong, Hong Kong
        • Duchess of Kent of Children Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

3 years to 15 years (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • The diagnosis of ASD or autism was made according to the criteria of the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) and Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R).
  • The diagnosis of autism was made if it satisfied a score greater than 30 in the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Children with associated neurological disorders such as Tuberous Sclerosis, Fragile X Syndrome and epilepsy.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Ritvo-Freeman Real Life Scale (RFRLS) was conducted on both groups before (Week 0) and after (Week 8) acupuncture.
Functional Independence Measure for children (WeeFIM) consists of 18 questions concerning on the Functional Independence Measure for children, which was conducted on both groups before (Week 0) and after (Week 8) acupuncture.
Parental Stress Index (PSI) consists of child domain, parent domain and a total domain, which was conducted on both groups before (Week 0) and after (Week 8) acupuncture.
Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGIS) is a measure in a Likert scale of 0 - 7, which was conducted on both groups before (Week 0) and after (Week 8) acupuncture.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

The University of Hong Kong

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Wong Virginia, The University of Hong Kong

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 13, 2006

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 13, 2006

First Posted (Estimate)

July 14, 2006

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

July 14, 2006

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 13, 2006

Last Verified

July 1, 1999

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 3469296479554546

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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