NCT07071428

Acupuncture Treatment in Pediatric Patients With Tic Disorders: A Prospective, Single-Center, Randomized Controlled Trial

A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Treatment of Chronic Tic Disorder With Nourishing the Vital Energy and Regulating the Spirit Needle Technique

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 76 (actual)
• Sponsor: The Third Affiliated hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 5 Years – 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This study was conducted to observe the efficacy of Nourishing the vital energy and Regulating the spirit needle technique in the treatment of chronic tic disorder through the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) and the Chinese Medicine Symptom Rating Scale in order to provide a new, safe and feasible treatment option and idea for the treatment of chronic Tic Disorder.

Detailed description

In this study, 76 children who met the diagnostic criteria for chronic tic disorder were collected and randomly divided into the therapy group(n-38)and control group(n=38) according to a random number table. The patients were treated 3 times a week for 7 weeks, a total of 20 times. YGTSS scores and the Chinese Medicine Symptom Rating Scale were performed before and after 2 courses of treatment, and clinical efficacy and adverse events were observed in both groups, and YGTSS scores were recorded at follow-up 4 week safter the end of treatment and 12 weeks after the end of treatment, respectively. All data were statistically processed and analysed using SPSS 25.0 software, and relevant differences were compared after processing and analysis.

Conditions

• Tic Disorders

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Regular acupuncture	Primary acupoints: Baihui (GV20), Hegu (LI4, bilateral), Fengchi (GB20, bilateral), Taichong (LV3, bilateral), Jinsuo (GV8), and Ganshu (BL18, bilateral). Operational procedures: Preoperative preparation identical to the treatment group; for Baihui (GV20), perform subcutaneous insertion backward (0.5 cun); for Fengchi (GB20), apply oblique insertion toward the nasal tip (0.8 cun); for Hegu (LI4) and Taichong (LV3), use perpendicular insertion (0.5 cun); for back-shu points (Ganshu BL18), rapid needling is applied due to low safety and inconvenience of retaining needles. Needle manipulation for qi activation, cycle, and frequency align with the treatment group. Treatment protocol: 3 sessions per week, 10 sessions constituting one course, totaling 20 sessions.
PROCEDURE	the Nourishing the vital energyand Regulating the spirit needle technique	Primary points: Zhongwan (RN12), Xiawan (RN10), Qihai (RN6), Guanyuan (RN4), Taixi (KI3/bilat.), Baihui (GV20), Sishencong (EX-HN1), Shenting (GV24), Benshen (GB13/bilat.). Supplemental points: Blinking: Zanzhu (BL2) + Taiyang (EX-HN5/affected); Mouth twitch: Dicang (ST4) + Jiache (ST6/affected); Neck twitch: Fengchi (GB20) + Shangqu (KI17/affected); Limb twitch: UL-Waiguan (SJ5) + Quchi (LI11/affected), LL-Futu (ST32) + Yanglingquan (GB34/affected); Vocal tics: Tongue Three Needles (HN23). Post-disinfection: Calm child pre-needling. Sequence: Scalp → abdomen → limbs. Techniques: Scalp points-subcutaneous backward 0.5in; Taixi (KI3)-perpendicular 0.5in, mild lift-thrust/twirl to deqi; Abdomen-abdominal acupuncture (linea alba ref.), adipose/fascial layer insertion (no muscle/deqi), 30min retention no manipulation; Rapid withdrawal with pressure. Protocol: 3 sessions/week, 10-session course, 20 sessions total.

Timeline

• Start date: 2021-08-01
• Primary completion: 2022-07-11
• Completion: 2022-12-01
• First posted: 2025-07-17
• Last updated: 2025-08-05

Locations

1 site across 1 country: China