Acupuncture Treament in Children With Tic Disorders

NCT07588815 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: MZPH202604001
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 102
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

This study intends to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture on tic disorders in Children; and to explore the underlying mechanism of acupuncture intervention on tic disorders based on Magnetic Resonance Diffusion Tensor Imaging(MR-DTI).

Conditions

Tic Disorder, Childhood

Keywords

Tic disorers; Acupuncture; Magnetic Resonance Diffusion Tensor Imaging

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Yale Global Tic Severity Scal(YGTSS)

  The Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) Score is designed to assess the severity of symptoms in children with TD by scoring the type of tics, frequency of tics, intensity of tics, complexity of tics, degree of interference with normal behavior, and degree of impairment of social functioning in the child, with a total score ranging from 0-75, with higher scores indicating greater severity of the child's condition.

  baseline,4 weeks,8 weeks,6 months

• MR-DTI

  Magnetic Resonance Diffusion Tensor Imaging(MR-DTI).Scanning will employ a single-shot echo-planar imaging sequence with 15 diffusion gradient directions. Software such as DTI Studio will be used to calculate the Mean Diffusivity (MD), Fractional Anisotropy (FA), and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) values for each subject's corpus callosum, bilateral globus pallidus, thalamus, putamen, and caudate nucleus.

  baseline,8 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Pediatric quality of life inventory

  baseline,4 weeks,8 weeks,6 months

• Traditional Chinese Medicine Symptom Score

  baseline,4 weeks,8 weeks,6 months

Other Outcomes (1)

• Acupuncture-Related Adverse Events

  8 weeks

Study Arms (3)

Acupuncture group

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral intervention and acupuncture

Other: Acupuncture; Behavioral: Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT)

Waiting for acupuncture group

OTHER

Behavioral intervention

Behavioral: Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT)

Healthy control group

NO INTERVENTION

Healthy participants without intervention

Interventions

Acupuncture OTHER

The Acupuncture point prescription is as follows: Sishencong (EX-HN1), bilateral Shuaigu (GB8), bilateral Yangbai (GB14), bilateral Sibai (ST2), bilateral Fengchi (GB20), bilateral Fenglong (ST40), bilateral Hegu (LI4), and bilateral Taichong (LR3). Points will be selected based on Traditional Chinese Medicine syndrome differentiation, with location standardized according to the 2006 National Standard of the People's Republic of China (GB/T 12346-2006), "Nomenclature and Location of Acupuncture Points." After routine skin disinfection, Sishencong will be obliquely needled to a depth of 0.5 cun, and the remaining points will be perpendicularly needled to a depth of 1 cun. The twirling manipulation will be applied until the needling sensation (Deqi) is locally achieved. Needles will be retained for 30 minutes. Treatment will be administered once daily, 5 times per week, for a total of 8 weeks (40 sessions).

Acupuncture group

Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) BEHAVIORAL

Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) is recommended as a first-line intervention by organizations such as the American Academy of Neurology.It consists of several core components: Psychoeducation,Awareness Training,Competing Response Training,Function-Based Intervention and Social Support and Relapse Prevention

Acupuncture group; Waiting for acupuncture group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 5 Years - 18 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Must meet the diagnostic criteria for Provisional Tic Disorder (PTD) or Persistent (Chronic) Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder (CTD)
• Right-handed children aged 5-18 years
• Have not previously received systematic acupuncture treatment and are able to adhere to acupuncture treatment for ≥ 2 months
• Complete medical records available
• Not currently participating in any other clinical study
• Voluntary participants, with the signature and consent of their guardians, and children aged 8 and above obtaining their own informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• History of hepatolenticular degeneration (Wilson's disease), rheumatic chorea, childhood migraine, epilepsy, intellectual disability, schizophrenia, or other related conditions
• Presence of organic neurological diseases or other severe conditions significantly impacting quality of life
• Recent use of centrally-acting medications
• Inability to regularly complete the acupuncture treatment regimen
• Inability to undergo the MR-DTI examination
• Refusal to sign the written informed consent form
• Inability of the child or guardian to cooperate during the treatment and follow-up process

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Meizhou People's Hospital: lead

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Tic Disorders

Interventions

Acupuncture Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Movement Disorders; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics

Central Study Contacts

Zhongtao Song, PhD

CONTACT

0086-19820151649; songzhongtao1@mzrmyy.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: TRIPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 29, 2026
• First Posted: May 15, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): June 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 1, 2029
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 1, 2030
• Last Updated: May 15, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05