Trial reportJAMA network open2025
Transcranial Pulsed Current Stimulation and Social Functioning in Children With Autism: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Trial report in JAMA network open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- The impact of non-invasive brain stimulation and digital intervention on social cognitive therapy in autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026Pooled it
- Deep brain stimulation of the nucleus accumbens and anterior limb of internal capsule in a paediatric patient with autism spectrum disorder: A case report and literature review.General psychiatry · 2026Article
- Cerebellar High Frequency Transcranial Pulsed Current Stimulation Increases Total Sleep Time in Chronic Insomnia: A Pilot Study.Research square · 2026Article
- Altered Cerebellar Spontaneous Activity and Its Association with Arousal Index in Comorbid Insomnia and Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Resting-State fMRI Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Ertugliflozin improves animal behaviours associated with oxidative stress and inflammation in a BTBRBrain communications · 2026Article
- Early screening of childhood ASD at primary care hospitals in western China: a multi-center study in Chengdu, Sichuan Province.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Neuromodulation and rehabilitation of post-stroke cognitive impairment: challenges and prospects.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
19 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Importance: Transcranial pulsed current stimulation (tPCS) may improve social functioning and sleep disorders in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Prior trials have been limited by small sample sizes, single-center designs, and often a lack of sham controls. Objective: To examine the safety and efficacy of tPCS in improving social functioning and sleep disorders in children with ASD. Design, Setting, and Participants: This multicenter, double-blind, 2-armed, sham-controlled randomized clinical trial, conducted from May 1, 2022, through November 30, 2023, assessed children aged 3 to 14 years with ASD at 8 medical centers in China. Interventions: Participants underwent daily 20-minute sessions of active tPCS (0.7 mA) or sham tPCS (brief 0.7 mA ramp-up and ramp-down) for 20 sessions over 4 weeks with anode over the right cerebellar hemisphere and cathode over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (12.56-cm2-circular, 4-cm-diameter circular electrodes). Each day after tPCS, all participants received 1 hour of standard therapy. Main Outcomes and Measures: Social functioning was assessed using the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included the Autism Behavior Checklist and the Childhood Sleep Habits Questionnaire. Results: A total of 312 participants (155 in the active group and 157 in the sham group; 248 [79.5%] boys; mean [SD] age, 5.1 [1.6] years; 276 [88.5%] aged 3-6 years and 36 [11.5%] aged 7-14 years) completed the trial. After 20 sessions, the mean Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist total score improved by 4.13 points (5.8%) in the sham tPCS group and 7.17 points (10.7%) in the active tPCS group. Analysis of covariance showed significantly greater improvement in the active tPCS group (difference, -3.50; 95% CI, -5.56 to -1.43; P < .001). Both treatments were well tolerated. Conclusions and Relevance: In this randomized clinical trial of prefrontal-cerebellar tPCS in children aged 3 to 14 years with ASD, 20 sessions over 4 weeks improved social functioning and sleep. These findings suggest that tPCS may serve as a viable nonpharmacologic alternative for ASD. Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Identifier: ChiCTR2200059118.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.