자폐스펙트럼 장애 소아의 두피침 중재 효과에 대한 최신 임상연구 동향 -중국 RCT 17편 중심 분석-

Abstract

Objectives This study aimed to analyze recent trends in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted in China on scalp acupuncture (SA) for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), evaluate the reported clinical efficacy and safety, and propose future directions for domestic research. Methods A literature search was conducted using the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database for RCTs on SA in children with ASD published between January 2019 and December 2023. The study design, participant characteristics, intervention methods, outcome measures, and safety reports were analyzed comprehensively. Results A total of 17 RCTs were included. The sample size ranged from 40 to 120 participants, with most children aged 3-12 years old. Research activity peaked in 2021 (50.0%), and the majority were medium-sized studies (50-80 participants; 78%). All studies applied SA in combination with conventional therapy, with the treatment duration typically lasting 12 weeks (72.2%). The main assessment tools were the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC), Childhood Autism Ranking Scale (CARS), Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC), and Psychoeducational Profile, Third Edition (PEP-3). In all the studies, the intervention groups showed significant improvements compared to the control group. The most frequently used acupoints were EX-HN1 (88.9%), GV24 (83.3%), GV20 (77.8%), and the language area (72.2%). Only one study (5.6%) reported safety data, and no serious adverse events were observed. Conclusions Across all analyzed RCTs, adjunctive SA demonstrated consistent and significant clinical improvements in the social, language, and behavioral domains compared to conventional therapy alone. SA appears to contribute to multidimensional functional enhancement in children with ASD and is generally regarded as a safe intervention, with no serious adverse effects reported. However, some methodological limitations were identified, highlighting the need for more standardized and rigorously designed future studies to further strengthen the evidence base for clinical application.