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CompletedNCT00352248Updated Jul 14, 2006

Randomized Controlled Trial of Acupuncture Versus Sham Acupuncture in Autistic Spectrum Disorder

A Phase 3 interventional study of Tongue Acupuncture (Procedure) in Autistic Disorder and Autism, sponsored by The University of Hong Kong. Completed at 1 site in Hong Kong. Open to participants aged 3 Years to 11 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2006-07-14.

Sponsored by The University of Hong Kong · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
50
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
3 Years to 11 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

We aim to study the efficacy of Acupuncture versus sham acupuncture in children with ASD.

Read the detailed description

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) philosophy, the approach to Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a holistic one. The objective is to study the efficacy of a short intensive course of Acupuncture versus sham acupuncture in improving the overall functional status of children with autism. A single-blind randomized control trial was conducted in 50 children. These children were randomly assigned to Treatment group with Tongue Acupuncture (40 sessions over 8 weeks) or Control group (Sham Tongue Acupuncture to non-acupoints in the tongue).

02

Conditions studied

  • Autistic Disorder
  • Autism

Keywords

  • Alternative Medicine (AM)
  • Traditional Chinese Medicine
  • Tongue Acupuncture
  • Autistic Spectrum Disorder
  • Autism
  • Children
03

In context

Autistic Disorder

1,344 studies on the registry are indexed under Autistic Disorder; 334 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 50 is above the median of 45 across 1,044 interventional studies indexed under Autistic Disorder.

Browse Autistic Disorder studies →

Lead sponsor

The University of Hong Kong is the lead sponsor of 1,262 studies on the registry; 340 are open to participants now.

Of its 8 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 0 (0%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
3 Years to 11 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Subjects with diagnosis of autism 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 and with a score for Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) greater than 30.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Children with associated neurological disorders and epilepsy.
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Study design

Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single
Enrollment
50 participants

Interventions

  • ProcedureTongue Acupuncture (Procedure)
06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Griffiths Mental Developmental Scale (GMDS) was conducted before (at Week 0) and after (at Week 9) acupuncture.

  2. Ritvo-Freeman Real Life Scale (RFRLS) was conducted before (at Week 0) and after (at Week 9) acupuncture.

  3. Reynell Language Developmental Scale (RLDS) was conducted before (at Week 0) and after (at Week 9) acupuncture.

  4. Symbolic Play Test (SPT) was conducted before (at Week 0) and after (at Week 9) acupuncture.

  5. Functional Independence Measure for children (WeeFIM) was conducted before (at Week 0) and after (at Week 9) acupuncture.

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Duchess of Kent of Children Hospital
    Hong Kong, Hong Kong
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jul 14, 2006, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00352248
Lead sponsor
The University of Hong Kong
First posted
Jul 14, 2006
Last update
Jul 14, 2006

Study contacts

Wong Virginia
principal investigator · The University of Hong Kong
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Jul 1999. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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