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The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
Published on: June 12, 2020
Randomized-controlled study of treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder of preschool children with combined
Shasha Li1, Bo Yu, Zhenlang Lin
1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, China.
Insights
Electro-acupuncture combined with behavior therapy effectively reduces attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in preschool children. This combined treatment shows lasting benefits and is recommended for further study.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Integrative Medicine
- Behavioral Therapy
Background:
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder in preschool children.
- Current treatment options for pediatric ADHD have limitations and potential side effects.
- Investigating novel therapeutic approaches is crucial for improving ADHD management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of electro-acupuncture combined with behavior therapy for preschool children diagnosed with ADHD.
- To compare the effectiveness of this combined therapy against a control group receiving sham electro-acupuncture and behavior therapy.
Main Methods:
- 180 preschool children with ADHD (DSM-IV diagnosed) were divided into predominantly inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, and combined subtypes.
- Participants were randomized into an experimental group (electro-acupuncture + behavior therapy) or a control group (sham electro-acupuncture + behavior therapy).
- Treatment efficacy and symptom changes were assessed after 12 weeks, with relapse rates monitored for six months.
Main Results:
- The experimental group demonstrated significantly better overall treatment efficacy compared to the control group (p<0.05).
- Core ADHD symptoms in the experimental group showed a significant decrease at the six-month follow-up compared to the control group (p<0.05).
- Observed adverse events were mild.
Conclusions:
- Electro-acupuncture combined with behavior therapy is a beneficial treatment for reducing ADHD symptoms in preschool children.
- The combined therapy shows sustained efficacy and is well-tolerated.
- Further multi-center randomized controlled trials are warranted to validate these findings.
Objective:
To study the effectiveness of electro-acupuncture with behavior therapy on preschool children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Methods:
180 preschool children with ADHD diagnosed by DSM-IV were classified into three subtypes: predominantly inattentive subtype (PI subtype, 60 cases), predominantly hyperactive-impulsive subtype (HI subtype, 60 cases) and combined subtype (CT subtype, 60 cases). In each subtype, the patients were recruited randomly into experimental group, which received electro-acupuncture and behavior therapy; and control group, which received sham electro-acupuncture and behavior therapy. The treatment efficacy was evaluated by measuring the change in core symptoms of ADHD according to the standard enacted by the national traditional Chinese medicine committee after 12 courses of treatment (lasted 12 weeks) and relapse rate was evaluated after a half-year follow up.
Results:
(1) In PI subtype, 11 cases showed effectiveness with treatment and 12 cases showed improvement with treatment among experimental group, while five cases showed effectiveness and 12 cases showed improvement among control group; in HI subtype, 10 cases showed effectiveness and 17 cases showed improvement among experimental group, while four cases showed effectiveness and 14 cases showed improvement among control group; in CI subtype, 12 cases showed effectiveness and 12 cases showed improvement among experimental group, while five cases showed effectiveness and 12 cases showed improvement among control group; The overall comparison manifested that the efficacy of experimental group was better than that of control group (p<0.05). (2) The core symptoms of experimental group were significantly decreased than that of control group at half-year follow up (p<0.05).
Conclusion:
The treatment of ADHD in preschool children with electro-acupuncture combining behavior therapy has positive effect in reducing symptoms of ADHD. Adverse events are mild to patients. It is recommendable for this combined therapy, while multi-center RCT needs to be further studied.
