Papers

Research literature with structured metadata.

Trials

Registered studies by status, phase, and compound.

Topics

Indications and themes psychedelics are researched for.

Compounds

Evidence across molecules with rich data.

Countries

Regulation, access, and research activity by region.

Stakeholders

Organizations shaping the space across research, policy, and funding.

People

Investigators, clinicians, and authors with mapped output.

Courses

Training programs and certifications across modalities.

Events

Conferences, workshops, and convenings by date and focus.

Results

Compare outcome data across trials and publications.

Research Snapshot

One-page overview of trials, participants, papers, and research networks.

Clinical Guidelines

Trial-anchored manuals and protocol guidance with competency mapping.

Research recaps

Monthly evidence summaries with key takeaways.

Map of research

Landscape view of trials, compounds, and outcomes.

Newsletter

Weekly or daily updates on trials, publications, analysis, and more.

Research Groups

Worldwide map of psychedelic research centres by region.

Road to Access

Science, regulation, and economics on the path to patient access.

Research Network

Interactive co-authorship map of psychedelic researchers.

Top papers

Find needles in the haystack of psychedelic research per topic.

AskBeta
Pricing

The intelligence layer for psychedelic research.

Company

  • About
  • Contact
  • Newsletter

Product

  • Feedback
  • Roadmap
  • Changelog
  • API
  • Partners
  • Clinical Guidelines

Legal

  • Privacy
  • Terms

© 2026 Blossom. All rights reserved.

Home/Research/LSD/Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

LSD for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

6 papers and 1 clinical trial exploring lsd as a treatment for autism spectrum disorder (asd).

Compoundclassic psychedelic

LSD

LSD is a classic psychedelic ergoline with high potency at microgram doses and an 8-12 hour duration of action, mediated primarily via 5-HT2A receptor agonism. Modern Phase IIb data in generalised anxiety disorder and FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation for MM120 have reignited clinical development.

Full LSD profile
IndicationApproximately 1 in 160 children worldwide.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Research into the use of psychedelics for treating Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is limited but gaining traction, with preliminary studies suggesting potential therapeutic benefits, particularly for associated social anxiety. Notable figures in this emerging field, such as Alicia Danforth and Charles Grob, are advocating for further exploration of psychedelics in ASD treatment.

Full Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) profile

Academic Research

6 papers
Paywallindividual

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.

Published
October 5, 2024
Journal
Psychopharmacology
Authors
Stroud, J., Rice, C., Orsini, A., Schlosser, M., Lee, J., Mandy, W., Kamboj, S. K.
Open Accessmeta

Evaluating the Potential Use of Serotonergic Psychedelics in Autism Spectrum Disorder

This review evaluates evidence that serotonergic psychedelics (5‑HT2A agonists such as LSD, psilocybin and DMT) may ameliorate social deficits and co‑occurring anxiety and depression in autism spectrum disorder. It highlights neurobiological constraints (synaptic, serotonergic, prefrontal and thalamocortical dysfunction), mixed and sometimes adverse outcomes in historical paediatric trials, and concludes that rigorous contemporary studies are needed to determine whether benefits outweigh risks and whether 5‑HT2A is a viable therapeutic target.

Published
January 27, 2022
Journal
Frontiers in Pharmacology
Authors
Markopoulos, A., Inserra, A., De Gregorio, D., Gobbi, G.
Open Accessmeta

Dissolving the self: Active inference, psychedelics, and ego-dissolution

The paper presents an active inference account of psychedelic-induced ego-dissolution, arguing that psychedelics lower precision on high-level priors (raising the Bayesian learning rate) which collapses the temporal thickness of the deep generative model and thereby dissolves the self-model. This framework links ego-dissolution to mechanisms underlying ordinary self-consciousness and its disturbances in conditions such as psychosis, autism, depression and dissociative disorders.

Published
March 24, 2020
Journal
Philosophy and the Mind Sciences
Authors
Deane, G.
Open Accessmeta

Modulation of Social Cognition via Hallucinogens and “Entactogens”.

This literature review (2019) discusses controlled experimental studies on the effects of psychedelics (e.g. LSD, psilocybin, MDMA) on social cognition and behavior to treat disorders characterized by social dysfunctions such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). It also discusses persisting knowledge gaps into sex-specific drug effects and objective data on social behavior within the framework of MDMA- and hallucinogen-assisted therapy. The study suggests hallucinogen-based treatment methods and the development of novel medication for trans-diagnostic dysfunction in social cognition and noted that entactogens and hallucinogens have consistently shown prosocial effects and have identified alterations in social processing and behavior as major factors for the efficacy of treatments involving them.

Published
December 3, 2019
Journal
Frontiers in Psychiatry
Authors
Preller, K. H., Vollenweider, F. X.
Open Accessmeta

The use of psychedelic agents with autistic schizophrenic children

This review (1971) of 7 studies looked at the effect of psychedelics in autistic children (n=91). Psychedelics led to improved speech and mood, better emotional responsiveness, and decreased compulsive behaviour.

Published
January 1, 1971
Journal
Psychedelic Review
Authors
Mogar, R. E., Aldrich, R. W.
Paywallindividual

Autistic Schizophrenic Children: An Experiment in the Use of D-Lysergic Acid Diethyladmide (LSD-25)

This early study (1962; n=12) with LSD (50-200µg) on children with autism (ASD) and schizophrenia, of which 7 were mute, showed that LSD elicited large psychological changes in this population, but no change in muteness. Procedures for consent were different/non-existent at that time.

Published
March 1, 1962
Journal
JAMA Psychiatry
Authors
Freedman, A. M.

Clinical Trials

1 trial
Completed

LSD-25 in Autistic Schizophrenic Children: An Open Observational Study (Freedman 1962)

Open, observational study (Archives of General Psychiatry, March 1962; Freedman AM, Ebin EV, Wilson EA) at a day school for children with schizophrenia. From a total school population of 40, 12 well-known pupils were selected who met the authors' criteria for autistic schizophrenia: 10 boys and 2 girls aged 5 years 11 months to 11 years 10 months; 7 were essentially mute and the other 5 used words or phrases only occasionally. No control arm or randomisation. Intervention: d-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25) administered in an open exploratory design; dose details and session structure not fully described in available methods extract. Outcomes: behavioural and developmental observations at the day school. No trial registry; pre-dates any formal registration requirement.

Started
January 1, 1960
Type
interventional
Randomized
No
Registry ID
FREEDMAN-1962-ARCHPSYC-LSD-AUTISTIC-CHILDREN

Explore further

Search all LSD papers Search all Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) trials Full LSD profile Full Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) profile