Recruiting

ACU-ADHDAcupuncture for ADHD in Children

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What is being tested

Chinese herbal medicine

+ Acupuncture

DrugDevice
Who is being recruted

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity+1

+ Mental Disorders

+ Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders

From 6 to 12 Years
See all eligibility criteria
How is the trial designed

Treatment Study

Interventional
Study Start: October 2024
See protocol details

Summary

Principal SponsorThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine
Study ContactTananan Sangwanit, Ph.D.studentMore contacts
Last updated: January 28, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Study start date: October 15, 2024

Actual date on which the first participant was enrolled.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common condition in children that can make focusing, sitting still, and controlling impulses difficult. This study looks into acupuncture as a possible treatment for children aged 6-12 who have ADHD. While traditional methods like medication and therapy are widely used, this research aims to explore if acupuncture, combined with Chinese herbal treatment, could offer additional benefits. The study is important because it seeks to find alternative ways to help manage ADHD symptoms, potentially leading to more treatment options for families. In this study, participating children will be divided into two groups. One group will receive both acupuncture and traditional Chinese herbal treatment, while the other will only receive herbal treatment. Researchers will measure changes in ADHD symptoms, how well children function day-to-day, their quality of life, and sleep patterns before and after the treatment, and during follow-up visits. The study also includes interviews with children, their parents, and their doctors to gather personal insights on the treatment's effectiveness and satisfaction. This comprehensive approach aims to provide a clearer picture of how acupuncture might help manage ADHD symptoms.

Official TitleClinical Study on Acupuncture Treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
NCT06860763
Principal SponsorThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine
Study ContactTananan Sangwanit, Ph.D.studentMore contacts
Last updated: January 28, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Protocol

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.
Design Details

76 patients to be enrolled

Total number of participants that the clinical trial aims to recruit.

Treatment Study

These studies test new ways to treat a disease, condition, or health issue. The goal is to see if a new drug, therapy, or approach works better or has fewer side effects than existing options.



Eligibility

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria: person's general health condition or prior treatments.
Conditions
Criteria

Any sex

Biological sex of participants that are eligible to enroll.

From 6 to 12 Years

Range of ages for which participants are eligible to join.

Healthy volunteers not allowed

If individuals who are healthy and do not have the condition being studied can participate.

Conditions

Pathology

Attention Deficit Disorder with HyperactivityMental DisordersAttention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior DisordersNeurodevelopmental Disorders

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: Patients will be considered for enrolment if they meet the criteria of: * A confirmed diagnosis of ADHD based on the DSM-5 criteria for ADHD (Western medical diagnosis) and in accordance with the ADHD Chinese Medicine Clinical Trial Design and Evaluation Technical Guidelines. * Aged between 6 and 12 years. * No use of any other pharmacological treatments (both Western and traditional Chinese medicine) within the two weeks prior to the start of the study. * An IQ score of greater than 80, as determined by the Raven's Progressive Matrices test. * The participant has not participated in any other clinical trials. Exclusion Criteria: Patients will be excluded from the study if they meet any of the following criteria: * Do not meet the inclusion criteria * Have comorbid psychiatric disorders, severe medical or psychiatric conditions that may interfere with the study (e.g., epilepsy, severe anxiety), pervasive developmental disorders, intellectual disability, or a history of suicidal or self-harming behavior * Have participated in any other drug clinical trials within the past 3 months. * Have severe comorbid conditions such as cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, or hematologic diseases. * Have any other conditions that the researchers believe may interfere with the assessment of treatment efficacy or safety.

Study Plan

Find out more about all the medication administered in this study, their detailed description and what they involve.
Treatment Groups
Study Objectives

2 intervention groups are designated in this study

This study does not include a placebo group 

Treatment Groups

Group I

Experimental
Acupuncture will be based on the first phase of data analysis, which identifies acupuncture point selection patterns for ADHD in school-age children.

Group II

Active Comparator
Chinese herbal decoction based on the 2019 edition of the "Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines for Pediatric ADHD" by the Chinese Society of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Study Objectives

Primary Objectives

Secondary Objectives

Study Centers

These are the hospitals, clinics, or research facilities where the trial is being conducted. You can find the location closest to you and its status.

This study has 1 location

Recruiting

Pediatrics Outpatient Department of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine

Beijing, ChinaOpen Pediatrics Outpatient Department of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine in Google Maps
Recruiting
One Study Center