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A Familiarization Protocol Facilitates the Participation of Children with ASD in Electrophysiological Research
Published on: July 31, 2017
Acupuncture for autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
Daniel Kl Cheuk1, Virginia Wong, Wen Xiong Chen
1Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Current evidence does not support acupuncture for treating autism spectrum disorder (ASD). More high-quality research is needed to determine its effectiveness and safety in children and adults.
Area of Science:
- Integrative Medicine
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Evidence-Based Practice
Background:
- Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental conditions characterized by social interaction and communication impairments, and behavioral inflexibility.
- Acupuncture, a Traditional Chinese Medicine technique, is increasingly explored for managing ASD symptoms, but its clinical efficacy and safety remain unverified.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture in improving core autistic features, communication, cognition, functioning, and quality of life in individuals with ASD.
- To assess the safety and adverse effects associated with acupuncture treatment in the ASD population.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases up to September 2010, including randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials.
- Studies included were those comparing acupuncture interventions with no treatment, placebo, or sham acupuncture in individuals with ASD.
- Data extraction and risk of bias assessment were performed independently by two reviewers; relative risk and mean difference were used for data analysis.
Main Results:
- Ten trials involving 390 children (ages 3-18) were included. Needle acupuncture showed no significant difference in core autistic features compared to sham acupuncture.
- Some secondary outcomes suggested potential benefits for communication, cognition, and global functioning with needle acupuncture, but evidence was inconsistent.
- Acupressure showed potential benefits for certain secondary outcomes. Adverse effects were reported but with limited quantitative data; quality of life was not assessed.
Conclusions:
- The current evidence base is insufficient to support the use of acupuncture for treating ASD in children.
- No randomized controlled trials have been conducted on adults with ASD, and existing studies have limitations including small sample sizes, high risk of bias, and heterogeneity.
- Further large-scale, high-quality trials with longer follow-up periods are necessary to establish the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for ASD.
