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

Psilocybin for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

8 papers and 2 clinical trials exploring psilocybin as a treatment for autism spectrum disorder (asd).

CompoundClassic Psychedelic

Psilocybin

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring tryptamine psychedelic that acts as a prodrug to psilocin, a potent 5-HT2A receptor agonist. It is the furthest advanced psychedelic in clinical development, with two positive Phase III trials in treatment-resistant depression and expanding regulated access in Australia, Germany, and US states.

Full Psilocybin 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

8 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

Bridging the translational neuroscience gap: Development of the ‘shiftability’ paradigm and an exemplar protocol to capture psilocybin-elicited ‘shift’ in neurobiological mechanisms in autism

The paper introduces the "shiftability" paradigm to bridge the translational gap by experimentally manipulating neurotransmitter systems in humans to observe causal effects on brain function in autism. It presents PSILAUT, an exemplar protocol using psilocybin as an in vivo serotonin probe to test whether serotonergic modulation produces different neurobiological “shifts” in autistic versus non‑autistic adults.

Published
May 26, 2023
Journal
MedRvix
Authors
Whelan, T. P., Daly, E., Puts, N. A., Malievskaia, E., Murphy, D. G. M., Mcalonan, G. M.
Paywallindividual

Psilocybin mitigates the cognitive deficits observed in a rat model of Fragile X syndrome

This rat model of Fragile X syndrome (FXS, genetic cause of autism -; ASD) finds that microdoses of psilocybin normalise cognitive performance in an object recognition test.

Published
December 5, 2022
Journal
Psychopharmacology
Authors
Buzzelli, V., Carbone, E., Manduca, A., Schiavi, S., Feo, A., Perederiy, J. V., Ambert, K. H., Hausman, M., Trezza, V.
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.
Paywallmeta

A Meta-Analysis of Placebo-Controlled Trials of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

This meta-analysis of nine placebo-controlled trials (n=211) showed a very large effect size (g=1.21) of treatment on four mental health conditions (PTSD, end-of-life anxiety, depression, social anxiety among autistic adults).

Published
June 12, 2020
Journal
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
Authors
Luoma, J. B., Chwyl, C., Bathje, G. J., Davis, A. K., Lancelotta, R.
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.

Clinical Trials

2 trials
RecruitingPhase I

Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression in Autism With Pre-Post Brain and Cognitive Measurement to Understand Mechanisms (PAT-DA)

Open-label Phase I study (n=20) assessing feasibility, tolerability and safety of psilocybin (10 mg safety dose then 25 mg treatment dose) with manualised psilocybin-assisted therapy in autistic adults with treatment-resistant depression.

Started
December 1, 2024
Type
interventional
Blinding
none
Randomized
No
Registry ID
NCT06731621
CompletedPhase NA

Psilocybin in Adults With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder (PSILAUT)

Randomised, double-blind, crossover neuroimaging study (n=67) comparing single doses of psilocybin 2 mg and 5 mg versus placebo in adults with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder to probe serotonin system regulation.

Started
December 1, 2022
Type
interventional
Blinding
double
Randomized
Yes
Registry ID
NCT05651126

Explore further

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