Perceived changes in mental health and social engagement attributed to a single psychedelic experience in autistic adults: results from an online survey
This online survey (n=233) of autistic participants with high autism quotient scores examines their experiences with psychedelic drugs and perceived changes attributed to their most 'impactful' psychedelic experience. It finds that the majority of participants reported reductions in psychological distress (82%) and social anxiety (78%), and increases in social engagement (70%), while 20% reported undesirable effects such as increased anxiety.
Authors
- Sunjeev Kamboj
- Jaehoon Lee
- Jack Stroud
Published
Abstract
Rationale
Anecdotal reports suggest that psychedelic drugs can improve psychological wellbeing and social engagement in autistic people. However, there are few contemporary studies on this topic.
Objectives
To examine autistic participants’ experiences with psychedelic drugs and the extent to which they attributed changes in mental health and social engagement to their most ‘impactful’ psychedelic experience. We also explored associations between these changes and mechanistically important variables (e.g., aspects of the acute psychedelic experience and changes in ‘psychological flexibility’).
Methods
Self-selecting autistic participants (n=233) with high autism quotient scores completed an online survey relating to their most impactful psychedelic experience. Questionnaires assessed the acute psychedelic experience and perceived psychedelic-induced changes in distress, social engagement and psychological flexibility, among other relevant variables.
Results
The majority of participants attributed reductions in psychological distress (82%) and social anxiety (78%) and increases in social engagement (70%) to their most ‘impactful’ psychedelic experience. A substantial minority (20%) also reported undesirable effects such as increases in anxiety with some describing their psychedelic experience as among the most negatively impactful experiences of their lives. The only substantial predictor of reductions in psychological distress was increased psychological flexibility.
Conclusion
Autistic people attributed changes in mental health and social engagement to a single highly impactful psychedelic experience. The results and their implications are discussed with caution considering the use of a non-experimental design and biased sampling.
Research Summary of 'Perceived changes in mental health and social engagement attributed to a single psychedelic experience in autistic adults: results from an online survey'
Introduction
Autism spectrum disorder is characterised by lifelong differences in social communication and restricted or repetitive behaviours, and autistic people experience elevated rates of mental health problems, loneliness and reduced quality of life. Recent clinical and theoretical work on classic psychedelics (5-HT2A agonists such as LSD, psilocybin and DMT) and related drugs has emphasised rapid and sometimes durable improvements in mood and social connectedness in non-autistic samples. Proposed mechanisms include acute ‘pivotal’ or hyper‑plastic neural states that permit revision of rigid, maladaptive beliefs and promote psychological flexibility and social connectedness. However, contemporary empirical studies specifically examining psychedelic effects in autistic people are scarce, with only a very small MDMA trial and protocol-level work known to the authors. Stroud and colleagues therefore conducted an exploratory online survey to examine how autistic adults attribute perceived long‑term changes in mental health and social functioning to a single, self‑identified “most impactful” psychedelic experience. The study also investigated associations between these perceived changes and mechanistically relevant variables such as features of the acute psychedelic experience (mystical and challenging dimensions), changes in psychological flexibility, loneliness, camouflaging and autistic traits, with the stated aim of informing whether progression to controlled intervention studies in this population is warranted.
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Study Details
- Study Typeindividual
- Journal
- Compounds
- Topics
- Authors
- APA Citation
Stroud, J., Rice, C., Orsini, A., Schlosser, M., Lee, J., Mandy, W., & Kamboj, S. K. (2025). Perceived changes in mental health and social engagement attributed to a single psychedelic experience in autistic adults: results from an online survey. Psychopharmacology, 242(2), 373-387. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-024-06685-8
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