Knowledge, perceptions, and use of psychedelics for mental health among autistic adults: An online survey
Sahba Afsharnia, Vivian Liang, Yona Lunsky, A Orsini, Ami Tint, Hsiang-Yuan Lin
PLOS mental health. December 26, 2025 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmen.0000514 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional online survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 424 |
| Population | English-speaking autistic adults |
| Topics | Anxiety Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Neurotypical Autism Computer-assisted web interviewing Clinical psychology Descriptive statistics Mental health service Context archaeology |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | Autistic adults in this self-selecting sample demonstrated strong interest in psychedelics as potential treatments for mental health, despite significant barriers to access and research participation. |
Abstract
Psychedelics such as psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA have shown promise in treating mental health conditions (e.g., depression, post-traumatic stress disorder) among neurotypical individuals, i.e., typically developing individuals without a diagnosed neurodevelopmental condition. However, their therapeutic potential for treating co-occurring mental-health conditions in autistic individuals remains under-explored. Autistic individuals often face co-occurring mental health challenges but are frequently excluded from clinical trials, creating a gap in effective treatments. This study aimed to explore knowledge, perceptions, and experiences of autistic adults regarding psychedelics. In this survey, “psychedelics” included classical psychedelics such as psilocybin and LSD, as well as MDMA. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with English-speaking autistic adults. We assessed participants’ knowledge of psychedelics, willingness to use them for mental health treatment, and any past psychedelic experiences. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to assess group differences. A total of 424 participants began the survey, with 261 completing it. Nearly half resided in Canada. Participants generally viewed psychedelics positively, with 77.8% expressing a willingness to try them, and 69.7% reported past use—most commonly psilocybin mushrooms. Higher doses and highly meaningful experiences correlated with longer-lasting mental health improvements. Barriers included legal concerns, health risks, and logistical challenges. Participants with prior experience reported greater perceived knowledge and lower perceived risks. Autistic adults in this self-selecting sample demonstrated strong interest in psychedelics as potential treatments for mental health, despite significant barriers to access and research participation. These results highlight the importance of considering education, policy reform, and inclusive research practices to ensure that autistic people have opportunities to explore psychedelic therapies. These findings should be interpreted cautiously, as the sample may not be representative of the broader autistic population. Future trials should optimize dosing and explore long-term benefits of psychedelics in this population.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on psilocybin for anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Challenging Experience Questionnaire: Characterization of challenging experiences with psilocybin mushrooms Internet survey respondents reporting challenging experiences with psilocybin | 2016 | Questionnaire development and validation | |
| Psychedelics and Mental Health: A Population Study Adult population in the United States | 2013 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 130,152 |
| Microdosing psychedelics: Motivations, subjective effects and harm reduction People aged 16 years or older who had used psychedelics and could comprehend written... | 2019 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 525 |
| People of color in North America report improvements in racial trauma and mental health symptoms following psychedelic experiences Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) in the US and Canada | 2020 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 313 |
| Naturalistic psilocybin use is associated with persisting improvements in mental health and wellbeing: results from a prospective, longitudinal survey Adults planning to take psilocybin outside clinical research, primarily... | 2023 | Prospective longitudinal survey | n = 2,833 |