General experiences of using psychedelics.

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.裸盖菇素（psilocybin）、麦角酸二乙酰胺（LSD）、亚甲二氧甲基苯丙胺（MDMA）等致幻剂，在神经典型个体（neurotypical，即无确诊神经发育障碍的普通发育个体）中治疗抑郁症、创伤后应激障碍（post-traumatic stress disorder）等精神疾病已展现出治疗潜力。然而，其在自闭症群体共病精神疾病中的治疗潜力仍未得到充分探索。自闭症患者常面临共病精神健康挑战，却频繁被排除在临床试验之外，导致该群体的有效治疗方案存在空白。本研究旨在探索自闭症成年群体对致幻剂的认知、态度与使用体验。本次横断面在线调查（cross-sectional online survey）面向英语使用者自闭症成年群体开展，评估了参与者对致幻剂的认知水平、用于精神疾病治疗的意愿，以及既往致幻剂使用经历。研究采用描述性统计（descriptive statistics）与卡方检验（chi-square tests）分析数据，以评估组间差异。本次调查共有424名参与者启动问卷填写，最终261人完成全部调研，近半数参与者居住于加拿大。参与者整体对致幻剂持积极态度，77.8%的受访者表示愿意尝试此类药物，69.7%的参与者报告曾有使用经历，其中最常见的为裸盖菇素蘑菇。更高剂量与极具意义的使用体验与更持久的精神健康改善呈显著相关。使用障碍包括法律顾虑、健康风险与实操挑战。有既往使用经历的参与者报告了更高的感知认知水平与更低的感知风险。本自我选择样本中的自闭症成年群体对致幻剂作为精神疾病潜在治疗手段展现出强烈兴趣，尽管其获取与参与研究仍存在显著障碍。本研究结果凸显了重视教育普及、政策改革与包容性研究实践的重要性，以确保自闭症群体有机会探索致幻剂疗法。需谨慎解读本研究结果，因本样本或无法代表更广泛的自闭症人群。未来相关试验应优化给药方案，并探索致幻剂在该群体中的长期获益。