Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Transcranial Pulse Stimulation on Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Double-Blinded, Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial Protocol

Teris Cheung, Yuen Shan Ho, Kwan Hin Fong, Yuen Ting Joyce Lam, Man Ho Li, Andy Choi Yeung Tse, Cheng Ta Li, Calvin Pak Wing Cheng, Roland Beisteiner

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common developmental disorder in children. The latest non-intrusive brain stimulation (NIBS) technology—transcranial pulse stimulation (TPS)—has been proven effective in older adults with mild neurocognitive disorders and adults with major depressive disorder. Nonetheless, there is so far no robust randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted on adolescents with ASD nationwide. This study proposes a two-armed (verum TPS group vs. sham TPS group), double-blinded, randomized, sham-controlled trial. Both groups will be measured at four timepoints, namely, baseline (T1), 2 weeks immediately after post-TPS intervention (T2), and at the 1-month (T3) and 3-month (T4) follow-ups. Thirty-four subjects, aged between 12 and 17, diagnosed with ASD will be recruited in this study. All subjects will be computerized randomised into the verum TPS group or the sham TPS group on a 1:1 ratio. All subjects will undertake functional MRI (fMRI) before and after the 2-weeks TPS interventions, which will be completed in 2 weeks’ time. This will be the first RCT evaluating the efficacy of TPS adolescents with ASD in Hong Kong. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT05408793.

Original languageEnglish
Article number15614
JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume19
Issue number23
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2022

Keywords

  • adolescents
  • autism spectrum disorder
  • efficacy
  • neuromodulation
  • RCT
  • transcranial pulse stimulation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pollution
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

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