An interventional study of Scalp Acupuncture Treatment and Tuina Treatment Group in Tic Disorder, sponsored by Children's Hospital of Fudan University. Enrolling by invitation at 1 site in China. Open to participants aged 4 Years to 12 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-07-23.
Sponsored by Children's Hospital of Fudan University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if scalp acupuncture works to treat chronic tic disorders (CTD) in children. It will also learn about the safety of scalp acupuncture. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Participants will:
Tourette Disorder (TD), which includes Temporary Tic Disorder (TTD), Chronic Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder (CTD), and Tourette Syndrome (TS), is a common neuropsychiatric condition in children and teenagers. It is characterized by sudden, rapid, repetitive, and non-rhythmic movements (motor tics) or sounds (vocal tics), or both. TD is most common in school-aged children, typically starting between ages 3 and 15, with symptoms peaking around ages 10-12. Children with TD often experience other challenges like obsessive-compulsive behaviors (OCD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum traits, anxiety, depression, sleep issues, or self-harm. These challenges can significantly impact the child's life, family, and society, making TD a chronic and difficult-to-treat condition that affects young people's health and quality of life.
Current treatments mainly involve medications and behavioral therapy. Drugs are often the first choice and can help reduce core symptoms, but side effects, poor long-term adherence, and symptom relapse after stopping medication make many families hesitant to use them. Behavioral therapy has fewer side effects but requires long-term effort, works slowly, and may not suit younger children.
Traditional acupuncture has shown promise in treating childhood neuropsychiatric conditions. Research suggests acupuncture may help by regulating nervous system function, improving brain blood flow, and balancing brain chemicals. Recent studies on TD report that acupuncture might reduce tic frequency/severity, improve mood/behavior, and enhance daily life. However, reviews of existing research point out flaws like small study groups, poorly designed methods, and lack of proper control groups. These issues create uncertainty about acupuncture's true effectiveness for TD, highlighting the need for larger, better-designed studies to confirm its benefits.
In this 12-week, randomized, controlled trial with outcome assessor and data analyst blinding, a total of 136 children with chronic tic disorders (CTD) will be enrolled. Participants will be randomly allocated into two groups: 1) the scalp acupuncture group (n = 68), which will receive scalp acupuncture combined with Tuina treatment (two sessions per week for 12 weeks), and 2) the routine intervention control group (n = 68), which will undergo Tuina treatment. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, weeks 4, 8, and 12 (treatment phase), and week 24 (follow-up phase) using the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS), Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale, Children and Adolescents' Quality of Life Scale for Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome (C\&A-GTS-QOL) and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL).
The study will be conducted across five clinical centers: the Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Xiamen Children's Hospital, First People's Hospital of Zunyi, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Dehong Prefecture People's Hospital.
102 studies on the registry are indexed under Tic Disorders; 26 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 136 is above the median of 50 across 83 interventional studies indexed under Tic Disorders.
Browse Tic Disorders studies →Children's Hospital of Fudan University is the lead sponsor of 268 studies on the registry; 95 are open to participants now.
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Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
The American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental health diagnoses. DSM-5 (2013, revised as DSM-5-TR in 2022) replaced DSM-IV, and some studies still name the older edition. “Meets DSM criteria for …” means diagnosed by that edition’s diagnostic criteria, usually by a clinician in an interview.
A planned gap after a treatment, so that its effects can lessen before the study treatment or a study assessment. Ask the study team and the doctor who prescribed it before changing any medicine.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
DSM diagnostic criteria
The American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental health diagnoses. DSM-5 (2013, revised as DSM-5-TR in 2022) replaced DSM-IV, and some studies still name the older edition. “Meets DSM criteria for …” means diagnosed by that edition’s diagnostic criteria, usually by a clinician in an interview.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Washout period
A planned gap after a treatment, so that its effects can lessen before the study treatment or a study assessment. Ask the study team and the doctor who prescribed it before changing any medicine.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
This group will receive scalp acupuncture treatment combined with Tuina treatment. The scalp acupuncture treatment and Tuina treatment will be implemented two times a week, eight times per treatment course, with each patient having three treatment courses in total.
Other: Scalp Acupuncture Treatment · Other: Tuina Treatment Group
This group will receive Tuina treatment only. The Tuina treatment will be implemented two times a week, eight times per treatment course, with each patient having three treatment courses in total.
Other: Tuina Treatment Group
Acupoint Selection: Baihui (GV20), Sishencong (EX-HN1), Frontal Midline Line (MS1), Vertex Midline Line (MS5), Lateral Line 1 of Vertex (MS7), Shenting (GV24), Yintang (EX-HN3), Shuaigu (GB8) Acupuncture Manipulation: Needles with a diameter of 0.18-0.35 mm and length of 13-25 mm are selected. After routine disinfection of the acupoint skin, the practitioner holds the micro-needle and quickly inserts it into the subcutaneous tissue at an insertion angle of 15°-30°, primarily using superficial horizontal insertion. The insertion depth is maintained at 15-20 mm, adjusted according to the child's head circumference, body size, and body mass. Needles are retained for 30 minutes. Course of treatment: 2 times a week for 12 weeks
Prescription: Spleen Meridian (Pi Jing), Small Heavenly Heart (Xiao Tianxin), Five Finger Joints (Wu Zhi Jie), Internal Bagua (Nei Bagua), Hand Yin-Yang (Shou Yin Yang), Upper Three Passes (Shang San Guan), Gushing Spring (Yongquan, KI-1), Leg Three Miles (Zusanli, ST-36) Manipulation Techniques Pushing/Kneading the Spleen Meridian (Tonifying Pi Jing): Tapping Small Heavenly Heart (Xiao Tianxin): Kneading the Five Finger Joints (Wu Zhi Jie): Moving the Internal Bagua (Nei Bagua): Separating Yin and Yang (Separating Shou Yin Yang): Pushing Up the Upper Three Passes (Pushing San Guan): Kneading Gushing Spring (Yongquan, KI-1): Kneading Leg Three Miles (Zusanli, ST-36): 2 times a week for 12 weeks
Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS)
Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) is a standardized instrument designed to assess the severity of tic disorders. It evaluates motor tics and vocal tics separately across five dimensions: frequency, intensity, complexity, interference, and overall severity, with each dimension scored on a scale of 0-5 points. The total scores for motor and vocal tics range from 0-25 points each. Additionally, the YGTSS assesses the overall functional impairment caused by tics in daily life, social interactions, academic performance, and occupational activities, with impairment scores ranging from 0-50 points. Total YGTSS Score is calculated as the sum of motor tic score, vocal tic score, and functional impairment score, yielding a composite score of 0-100 points, where higher scores indicate greater symptom severity.
Time frame: Assessments will be conducted at baseline, during the treatment phase (weeks 4, 8, and 12), and during the follow-up phase (week 24).
Clinical Global Impression (CGI) Scale
Clinical Global Impression (CGI) Scale, a globally recognized efficacy assessment tool for psychiatric disorders, comprises three domains: Severity of Illness (CGI-S), Global Improvement (CGI-I), and Efficacy Index (CGI-E). For this study, only CGI-S and CGI-I will be utilized. CGI-S evaluates the relative severity of current psychiatric symptoms based on clinical expertise, rated on a 7-point scale: 1: No illness 7: Extremely severe illness Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity. CGI-I assesses overall clinical improvement following intervention, scored on a 7-point scale ranging from -2 (very marked worsening) to +4 (very marked improvement), with 0 indicating no change.By integrating CGI-S (baseline severity) and CGI-I (post-treatment change), this scale provides a structured framework to objectively quantify disease burden and therapeutic response in patients with tic disorders following acupuncture intervention.
Time frame: Assessments will be conducted at baseline, during the treatment phase (weeks 4, 8, and 12), and during the follow-up phase (week 24).
Children and Adolescents Quality of Life Scale for Tourette Syndrome (C&A-GTS-QOL)
This scale is specifically designed for patients with Chronic Tic Disorders (CTD) and, compared to generic quality of life instruments, provides a more precise assessment of CTD-related quality of life. The scale comprises 27 items across four domains: Psychological well-being (11 items), Activities of daily living (7 items), Obsessive-compulsive thoughts and behaviors (5 items), Cognitive functioning (4 items). Each item is rated using a 5-point Likert scale. Positively worded items are scored from 1 ("strongly disagree") to 5 ("strongly agree"), while reverse-scored items are inversely coded. Domain scores are calculated by summing the item scores within each domain, and the total raw score is derived by aggregating all domain scores.
Time frame: Assessments will be conducted at baseline, during the treatment phase (weeks 4, 8, and 12), and during the follow-up phase (week 24)
Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL)
The CBCL evaluates general information, social competence, and behavioral problems. Social Competence: Encompasses three domains: activities, social interactions, and academic performance. Behavioral Problems: Assesses 113 items across domains such as depression, anxiety, and aggression. Items are scored on a 3-point Likert scale: 0: Absent 1. Mild or occasional 2. Marked or frequent This framework enables a comprehensive evaluation of acupuncture's impact on behavioral outcomes in children with tic disorders by integrating multidimensional metrics of social adaptation and psychopathology.
Time frame: Assessments will be conducted at baseline, during the treatment phase (weeks 4, 8, and 12), and during the follow-up phase (week 24)
Plan to share: Yes — The trial results will be published in a peer-reviewed scientific paper and through oral presentations at conferences. The datasets （IPD） during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Supporting information: Study protocol, Statistical analysis plan, Informed consent form
Time frame: Data will be made available for sharing for one year following the publication of the research results as a peer-reviewed paper.
Access criteria: Data will be available for non-commercial research upon reasonable request to the corresponding author, subject to a signed data use agreement and ethical compliance. Sharing is limited to 1 year post-publication.
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