Objective

2

To observe the clinical efficacy of press needle versus filiform needle therapy administered at the same frequency in the treatment of children with tic disorder （TD）.

Methods

2

A total of 120 children diagnosed with TD at the Capital Center for Children's Health，Capital Medical University from February 2021 to April 2024 were enrolled and randomly divided into a press needle group， a filiform needle group， and a clonidine group （

n

=40 each） using a random number table method. The clonidine group received clonidine transdermal patch therapy. The press needle group received press needle acupuncture combined with clonidine transdermal patch therapy， while the filiform needle group received filiform needle acupuncture combined with clonidine transdermal patch therapy. All groups were treated continuously for 12 weeks. The Yale Global Tic Severity Scale （YGTSS） scores were compared among the three groups before treatment and at weeks 4， 8， and 12. Adverse events during treatment were recorded.

Results

2

At week 4， there was no

statistically significant difference in the reduction of total YGTSS scores among the three groups （

P

>

0.05）. At weeks 8 and 12， the reductions in total YGTSS scores in the press needle group and filiform needle group were both greater than those in the clonidine group （

P

<

0.05）. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse events among the three groups （

P

>

0.05）.

Conclusion

2

With once-weekly treatment for 12 weeks， press needle and filiform needle therapies show comparable efficacy in children with TD， both superior to clonidine transdermal patch monotherapy， with good safety profiles.