Evaluating the Potential Use of Serotonergic Psychedelics in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Athanasios Markopoulos, Antonio Inserra, Danilo de Gregorio, Gabriella Gobbi
Frontiers in Pharmacology January 27, 2022 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.749068 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Anxiety Psilocybin Serotonin |
| Keywords | Autism spectrum disorder Hallucinogen Mood Population Prefrontal cortex Adverse effect Dissociative Clinical psychology |
| Citations | 44 |
| Key findings | Psychedelics may potentially ameliorate some behavioral atypicalities of ASD, but further studies are needed to determine whether benefits outweigh risks. |
Abstract
Recent clinical and preclinical evidence points towards empathogenic and prosocial effects elicited by psychedelic compounds, notably the serotonin 5-HT 2A agonists lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), and their derivatives. These findings suggest a therapeutic potential of psychedelic compounds for some of the behavioural traits associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by atypical social behaviour. In this review, we highlight evidence suggesting that psychedelics may potentially ameliorate some of the behavioural atypicalities of ASD, including reduced social behaviour and highly co-occurring anxiety and depression. Next, we discuss dysregulated neurobiological systems in ASD and how they may underlie or potentially limit the therapeutic effects of psychedelics. These phenomena include: 1) synaptic function, 2) serotonergic signaling, 3) prefrontal cortex activity, and 4) thalamocortical signaling. Lastly, we discuss clinical studies from the 1960s and 70s that assessed the use of psychedelics in the treatment of children with ASD. We highlight the positive behavioural outcomes of these studies, including enhanced mood and social behaviour, as well as the adverse effects of these trials, including increases in aggressive behaviour and dissociative and psychotic states. Despite preliminary evidence, further studies are needed to determine whether the benefits of psychedelic treatment in ASD outweigh the risks associated with the use of these compounds in this population, and if the 5-HT 2A receptor may represent a target for social-behavioural disorders.