The Efficacy and Safety of Acupuncture for the Treatment of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Table 2

Details of acupuncture treatment methods.

Study; (reference)	Depth of insertion	Deqi	Needle stimulation	Needle retention time	Number of treatment sessions	Frequency of treatment	Duration of treatment
Allam et al. 2008; [25]	0.5–1	O	Rapid manual stimulation upon insertion and removal of the needles	20 min	NR	Twice per week	9 months
Chen et al. 2014; [26]		NR	Han’s acupoint nerve stimulator	30 min	NR	5 times per week	2 months
Fan and Li 2016; [27]	NR	NR	Twirling every 30 min	Head: 1 h,; others: 30 min	20	5 times per week	NR
Gao 2015; [28]	NR	NR	Twirling every 5 min	45 min	NR	6 times per week	20 weeks
He 2006; [29]	NR	NR	Electrical stimulation (10 V, wave of rarefaction)	NR	24	3 times per week	8 weeks
Li and Liu 2011 [30]	0.5–1 cun	NR	Electrical stimulation (1.25 Hz, wave of condensation and rarefaction, 15 min), twirling	2–4 h	60	6 times per week	NR
Li et al. 2011 [31]	NR	NR	Twirling, lifting, thrusting	No retention	NR	1–5 times per week	6 weeks
Li et al. 2015; [32]	NR	NR	Twirling every 10 min	30 min	NR	6 times per week	3 months
Liao 2016; [33]	10–15 mm	NR	Twirling every 30 min	3-4 h	NR	NR	NR
Liu and Yuan 2007; [34]	Head: 0.5–0.8 cun,   tongue, limbs: 0.2–0.8 cun	NR	Twirling every 10 min	30 min	72	6 times per week	12 weeks
J. G. Sun and X. R. Sun 2014; [35]	NR	NR	Electrical and thermal stimulation	20 min	NR	3 times per day	2 months
Tang et al. 2013; [36]	10–15 mm	NR	Twirling	6–8 h	NR	6 times per week	25 weeks
Wang et al. 2006; [37]	GV20, EX-HN1: 0.5–0.8 cun	O	Electrical stimulation (1.25 Hz, wave of condensation and rarefaction)	50 min	NR	5 times per week	4 months
Wang et al. 2007; [38]	GV20: 15–20 mm, EX-HN1: 1.5–20 mm	O	Electrical stimulation (75 Hz)	50 min	NR	5 times per week	4 months
Wang et al. 2015; [39]	NR	NR	Twirling	Head: 1 h, limbs: 30 min	20	5 times per week	NR
Wong   [40]	GV20, EX-HN3, HT7, SP6: 13–25 mm, AT3: 5–10 mm	O	Electrical stimulation (25–75 Hz, continuous wave)	30 min	24	3 times per week	8 weeks
Wong and Chen 2010; [41]	NR	NR	Electrical stimulation	30 min	12	3 times per week	4 weeks
Wong and Sun 2010; [42]	Runze: 1 cm, Guanzhu: 0.3 cm, Tianmen: 0.5–1 cm, Diyou: 0.5 cm	NR	Quick and accurate insertion into acupoints	<15 s	40	5 times per week	8 weeks
Wong et al. 2014; [43]	Runze: 1 cm, Guanzhu: 0.3 cm, Tianmen: 0.5–1 cm, Diyou: 0.5 cm	NR	Quick and accurate insertion into acupoints	<15 s	40	5 times per week	8 weeks
Wu 2015; [44]	NR	NR	NR	NR	120	6 times per week	NR
Xiong 2014; [45]	10–15 mm	NR	Twirling every 1 h	6–8 h	NR	NR	NR
Yang 2012; [46]	Trunk: 0.1–0.3 cun, head: 0.5–0.8 cun	NR	Twirling every 20 min	60 min, trunk: no retention	120	5 times per week	NR
Zeng et al. 2014; [47]	NR	NR	Twirling every 15 min	1 h	120	5 times per week	6 months
Zeng et al. 2016; [48]	Head: 15–20 mm,; tongue, limbs: 5–15 mm	O	Twirling every 15 min	1 h	120	5 times per week	6 months
Zhao et al. 2015; [49]	25 mm	NR	Electrical stimulation (1–100 Hz, continuous wave, ≤50 mA, 30 min)	2 h	NR	6 times per week	3 months
Zhao et al. 2015; [50]	1–1.5 cun	NR	Twirling 200 times per min for 2-3 min	Scalp: 1 h, others: no retention	NR	6 times per week	3 months
Zhen and Jin 2016; [51]	NR	NR	Lifting and thrusting	30 min	NR	5 times per week	3 months

; : not recorded. trial. The rest are parallel studies.