What is the current state of research on the use of acupuncture in ADHD?

 

Several research studies show a positive effect of acupuncture on ADHD core symptomatology.

At the same time, methodological limitations can unfortunately be detected in many studies.

The currently highest level of scientific knowledge in medicine is the Systematic Review with accompanying meta-analysis (a statistical procedure). Here, scientific studies with a high number of particiants and of high scientific quality are filtered out of the large number of scientific publications on a topic and become compared with each other in regards of content and statistics (keywords: evidence-based practice/ evidence-based medicine EBM).

This presupposes that the measurement parameters used in the various studies are comparable. Furthermore, there must be at least one control group and in each group (here: group receiving acupuncture; control group receiving e.g. MPH or ATX; possibly an additional control group receiving 'fake' acupuncture (similar to the administration of a placebo)) are sufficiently required to generate statistical power and in order to allow generalisations. Furthermore, the allocation of study participants among the groups must be undertaken in a randomized way.


Three such systematic reviews (see Chen et al., 2021, Li et al., 2011 and Lee et al., 2011) and two meta-analyses (see Chen et al., 2021 and Li et al., 2011) are currently available regarding the effects of acupuncture on ADHD.

However, only three studies (out of hundreds originally reviewed) were included in Li et al.'s Systematic Review. Due to the differences in the measurement methods, only two of these studies could be compared in a meta-analysis. Even these studies had certain methodological limitations. The authors found that there is a certain amount of evidence (burden of proof) for the positive effect of acupuncture on ADHD core symptomatology, but that no final recommendations can yet be made due to the still somewhat thin data coverage (Li et al., 2011).

Some data show that acupuncture and MPH (e.g. Ritalin) provide equivalent results, but that the combined treatment is superior to pharmacological therapy alone (see Li et al., 2011).

To sum up: The scientific 'ice sheet' is already load-bearing to a certain extent, but still needs to harden in order to ensure that all skaters can safely be hold.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The author of this page conducted a study on this topic as part of his MSc dissertation. This study also showed a positive impact of acupuncture on ADHD core symptomatology, as well as on the perception of/dealing with stress (see May, 2019).

 

May, N. (2019) The Impact of Acupuncture on self-perceived Stress and ADHD Core Symptomatology in an adult, Atomoxetine-taking ADHD Participant.

An in-depth Single Case Study. MSc Dissertation Advanced Oriental Medicine (Research and Practice), Northern College of Acupuncture, York, UK.

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