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document
Randomized controlled trial of electro-acupuncture for autism spectrum disorder . OBJECTIVE To study the efficacy , safety , and compliance of short-term electro-acupuncture for children with autism spectrum disorder ( ASD ) . DESIGN Randomized , double-blind , sham-controlled , clinical trial . SUBJECTS AND METHODS Children with ASD were randomly assigned to an electro-acupuncture ( EA ) group ( n=30 ) or a sham electro-acupuncture ( SEA ) group ( n=25 ) matched by age and severity of autism . The EA group received electro-acupuncture for selected acupoints while the SEA group received sham electro-acupuncture to sham acupoints . A total of 12 EA and SEA sessions over four weeks were given . Primary outcome measures included Functional Independence Measure for Children ( WeeFIM ) , Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory ( PEDI ) , Leiter International Performance Scale-Revised ( Leiter-R ) , and Clinical Global Impression-Improvement ( CGI-I ) scale . Secondary outcome measures consisted of Aberrant Behavior Checklist ( ABC ) , Ritvo-Freeman Real Life Scale ( RFRLS ) , Reynell Developmental Language Scale ( RDLS ) , and a standardized parental report . Data were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney test . RESULTS There were significant improvements in the language comprehension domain of WeeFIM ( p=0.02 ) , self-care caregiver assistant domain of PEDI ( p=0.028 ) , and CGI-I ( p=0.003 ) in the EA group compared to the SEA group . As for the parental report , the EA group also showed significantly better social initiation ( p=0.01 ) , receptive language ( p=0.006 ) , motor skills ( p=0.034 ) , coordination ( p=0.07 ) , and attention span ( p=0.003 ) . More than 70 percent of children with ASD adapted to acupuncture easily , while eight percent had poor acupuncture compliance . Mild side effects of minor superficial bleeding or irritability during acupuncture were observed . CONCLUSION A short , four-week ( 12 sessions ) course of electro-acupuncture is useful to improve specific functions in children with ASD , especially for language comprehension and self-care ability .
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Intervention_Physical
electro-acupuncture
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Intervention_Physical
electro-acupuncture
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Intervention_Physical
electro-acupuncture ( EA )
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Intervention_Control
sham electro-acupuncture
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Outcome_Mental
Primary outcome measures
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Outcome_Mental
Functional Independence Measure for Children ( WeeFIM )
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Outcome_Mental
Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory ( PEDI )
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Outcome_Mental
Leiter International Performance Scale-Revised ( Leiter-R )
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Outcome_Mental
Clinical Global Impression-Improvement ( CGI-I ) scale
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Outcome_Mental
Aberrant Behavior Checklist ( ABC )
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Outcome_Mental
Ritvo-Freeman Real Life Scale ( RFRLS )
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Outcome_Mental
Reynell Developmental Language Scale ( RDLS )
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Outcome_Mental
standardized parental report
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Outcome_Physical
improvements in the language comprehension domain of WeeFIM ( p=0.02 )
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Outcome_Physical
self-care caregiver assistant domain of PEDI ( p=0.028 )
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Outcome_Physical
CGI-I
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Outcome_Physical
better
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Outcome_Mental
social initiation
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Outcome_Physical
( p=0.01 )
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Outcome_Mental
receptive language
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Outcome_Physical
( p=0.006 )
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Outcome_Physical
motor skills ( p=0.034 ) ,
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Outcome_Mental
coordination
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Outcome_Physical
( p=0.07 )
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Outcome_Mental
attention span
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Outcome_Mental
adapted to acupuncture easily
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Outcome_Mental
poor acupuncture compliance
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Outcome_Adverse-effects
Mild side effects of minor superficial bleeding
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Outcome_Adverse-effects
irritability during acupuncture
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Participant_Condition
autism spectrum disorder .
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Participant_Age
children
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Participant_Condition
autism spectrum disorder ( ASD )
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Participant_Age
Children
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Participant_Condition
ASD
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Participant_Sample-size
n=30
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Participant_Sample-size
n=25
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Participant_Age
age
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Participant_Condition
autism
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Participant_Age
children
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Participant_Age
children
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Participant_Condition
ASD