[Effect on the core symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder treated with acupuncture at "ghost points" combined with the acupoints selected by syndrome differentiation].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect on the core symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) treated with acupuncture at "ghost points", combined with the acupoints selected by syndrome differentiation. METHODS: A total of 124 ASD children were divided into a control group and a treatment group according to random number table, 62 cases in each group. In the control group, the routine rehabilitation treatment was provided in all of children, while in the treatment group, acupuncture was exerted at "ghost points", combined with the acupoints selected by syndrome differentiation. Acupuncture treatment was conducted for 15 min each time, 5 days weekly, for 3 months totally. Before and after treatment, the children were assessed with autism spectrum rating scale (ASRS) in two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the total score (T-score) of ASRS and the score of each sub-scale, e.g. peer socialization, adult socialization, social/emotional reciprocity, atypical language, stereotypy, repetitive behavior, sensory sensitivity, attention/self-regulation were all reduced remarkably as compared with those before treatment in intra-group comparison (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the scores aforementioned were all significantly reduced in the treatment group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture at "ghost poitns" combined with the acupoints selected by syndrome differentiation effectively relieves the core symptoms of ASD in children and improves the holistic therapeutic effect.