Acupuncture for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

PLoS One. 2022 Oct 10;17(10):e0275504. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275504. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients often use complementary and alternative medicine to treat symptoms, and acupuncture is one option. This systematic review aims to assess whether acupuncture is an effective treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Methods: We will search nine databases from their inception: PubMed, AMED, CINAHL, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, RISS, KoreaMed, KISS, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure database. Two investigators will independently review the selected studies, extract the data, and analyze them. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool will be used to assess the risk of bias.

Discussion: Because this is a systematic review, no ethical approval is needed. The systematic review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and disseminated both electronically and in print. The review will be updated to support health policy and practice.

Trial registration number: Reviewregistry1345.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acupuncture Therapy* / methods
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity* / therapy
  • Child
  • Humans
  • Meta-Analysis as Topic
  • Plant Extracts
  • Research Design
  • Systematic Reviews as Topic

Substances

  • Plant Extracts

Grants and funding

No external funding was supported. LA, HWL and MSL were funded internally by the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine (KSN2021210) (https://www.kiom.re.kr/eng/). The authors alone are responsible for the writing and content of paper. The funders had and will not have a role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.