Acupuncture for ADHD: Acupoint Data Mining, Clinical Effectiveness, and Interviews to Explore Treatment Outcomes.
NCT ID: NCT06860763
Last Updated: 2025-12-19
Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
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RECRUITING
NA
76 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2024-10-15
2026-05-31
Brief Summary
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This prospective cohort study will recruit children diagnosed with ADHD, assigning them to receive either acupuncture combined with traditional Chinese herbal treatment or herbal treatment alone. Quantitative assessments using the the SNAP-IV, Conners 3-P, BRIEF-2, PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales, PSQI and CGI that will be complemented by qualitative interviews to capture nuanced patient experiences and treatment outcomes.
The study will span 12 months, commencing on March 1st, 2025 with an expected completion by February 28th, 2026. By integrating quantitative assessments with qualitative insights, it aims to provide comprehensive evidence on acupuncture's role in ADHD management. Findings may inform clinical guidelines and enhance patient-centered care approaches.
Detailed Description
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The primary objective is to evaluate the therapeutic effects of acupuncture in children aged 6-12 years diagnosed with ADHD. The research design involves a prospective cohort study wherein participants will be allocated to receive either acupuncture combined with traditional Chinese herbal treatment or herbal treatment alone. Quantitative assessment of ADHD symptom and related impairment administered at baseline, post-treatment, and follow-up intervals. Additionally, qualitative interviews with participants, their caregivers and clinicians will explore subjective experiences, treatment satisfaction, and perceived changes in ADHD symptoms.
This prospective cohort study will recruit 6-12 year-old children diagnosed with ADHD from pediatrics department of the third affiliated hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. Participants will be randomly assigned to two groups: an experimental group receiving acupuncture alongside traditional Chinese herbal treatment, and a control group receiving only the herbal treatment. The study will adhere to ethical guidelines, ensuring informed consent from parents and assent from children.
The research content includes three parts, as follows Phase I: Acupoint data mining for core acupoints Acupoint data mining will guide personalized treatment protocols, selecting points historically used for ADHD and supported by current research.
Phase II: Clinical Trial Intervention Quantitative assessment will involve administering the SNAP-IV, Conners 3-P, BRIEF-2, PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales, PSQI and CGI at baseline, post-treatment, and follow-up intervals to measure changes in ADHD symptomatology, executive function, quality of life, and sleep quality.
Phase III: Qualitative Interview Qualitative methods will complement quantitative findings, capturing subjective experiences through semi-structured interviews with children, parents, and clinicians. This approach aims to provide a holistic understanding of treatment efficacy, patient satisfaction, and perceived improvements in ADHD symptoms, executive function, quality of life, and sleep patterns.
Statistical analyses will compare SNAP-IV, Conners 3-P, BRIEF-2, PSQI and PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales scores between groups, supplemented by thematic analysis of qualitative data to explore treatment satisfaction and symptom changes.
Statistical analyses, including paired t-tests, ANOVA, and thematic analysis, will be employed to compare outcomes between treatment groups and explore correlations between acupuncture treatment, symptom alleviation, and overall well-being measures.
Conditions
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Keywords
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Study Design
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NON_RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
TREATMENT
NONE
Study Groups
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Chinese Herbal Medicine
Chinese herbal decoction based on the 2019 edition of the "Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines for Pediatric ADHD" by the Chinese Society of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Chinese herbal medicine
The general treatment strategy will follow principles of clearing excess and replenishing deficiency, regulating the internal organs, and balancing yin and yang. Based on the patient's specific syndrome in TCM.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture will be based on the first phase of data analysis, which identifies acupuncture point selection patterns for ADHD in school-age children.
Chinese herbal medicine
The general treatment strategy will follow principles of clearing excess and replenishing deficiency, regulating the internal organs, and balancing yin and yang. Based on the patient's specific syndrome in TCM.
Acupuncture
The acupuncture needles used will be 0.25 mm in diameter and 25 mm in length, inserted quickly with even supplementation and reduction techniques.
Interventions
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Chinese herbal medicine
The general treatment strategy will follow principles of clearing excess and replenishing deficiency, regulating the internal organs, and balancing yin and yang. Based on the patient's specific syndrome in TCM.
Acupuncture
The acupuncture needles used will be 0.25 mm in diameter and 25 mm in length, inserted quickly with even supplementation and reduction techniques.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* A confirmed diagnosis of ADHD based on the DSM-5 criteria for ADHD (Western medical diagnosis) and in accordance with the ADHD Chinese Medicine Clinical Trial Design and Evaluation Technical Guidelines.
* Aged between 6 and 12 years.
* No use of any other pharmacological treatments (both Western and traditional Chinese medicine) within the two weeks prior to the start of the study.
* An IQ score of greater than 80, as determined by the Raven's Progressive Matrices test.
* The participant has not participated in any other clinical trials.
* Have comorbid psychiatric disorders, severe medical or psychiatric conditions that may interfere with the study (e.g., epilepsy, severe anxiety), pervasive developmental disorders, intellectual disability, or a history of suicidal or self-harming behavior
* Have participated in any other drug clinical trials within the past 3 months.
* Have severe comorbid conditions such as cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, or hematologic diseases.
* Have any other conditions that the researchers believe may interfere with the assessment of treatment efficacy or safety.
Exclusion Criteria
6 Years
12 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
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Mahidol University
OTHER
The Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Tananan Sangwanit
Principal Investigator (PI)
Principal Investigators
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Xia Cui, Ph.D.,Prof.
Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
Third Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine
Locations
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Pediatrics Outpatient Department of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine
Beijing, Chaoyang District, China
Countries
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Central Contacts
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Facility Contacts
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Tananan Sangwanit
Role: primary
References
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Other Identifiers
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BZYSY-2024YJSKTPJ-99
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id