Two systematic reviews have examined the use of acupuncture for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Eleven RCTs met the inclusion criteria for a systematic review by Korean authors. Most studies were found to have significant methodological weaknesses, and their statistical and clinical heterogeneity prevented meta-analysis. Two RCTs found that acupuncture plus conventional language therapy was superior to sham acupuncture plus conventional therapy. Two other RCTs found that acupuncture produced significant effects compared with conventional language therapy or complex interventions. Three RCTs suggested that acupuncture plus conventional therapies had beneficial effects compared with conventional therapy alone. Four more RCTs reported that subjects who received acupuncture experienced significant effects compared with subjects who were waitlisted or received no treatment. The authors conclude that there is mixed evidence of acupuncture’s effectiveness as a treatment for ASD symptoms. (Acupuncture for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials. J Autism Dev Disord. 2011 Nov 29. [Epub ahead of print]). A Cochrane Database review by researchers from Hong Kong including ten trials (390 children) concluded that currently available evidence is of poor quality and does not support the use of acupuncture for treatment of ASD. (Acupuncture for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011 Sep 7;9:CD007849).
Categories: Psychological / emotional
