How Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Can Help Treat Autism?
Have you ever wondered: Could there be a form of treatment that is not only focused on a single symptom of autism, but on more profound social, emotional and sensory difficulties? The solution can be found in an inconvenient place. We are going to discuss today the growing attention to psychedelics and autism in particular, and how psilocybin in autism and similar interventions are becoming potential add-ons in the U.S., with organisations such as the Changa Institute making efforts to make it possible.
We will discuss what we don't know about administering psychedelic-assisted therapy to autistic persons, review research, discuss community attitudes (yes, even the autistic psychedelic one), outline advantages and dangers, and answer such critical questions as: What does autistic psychedelic mean? And how carefully, how reverently, should one do this?
It is a guide to those on the spectrum, caregivers, therapists, or even those who are interested in learning more. We will take a walk of conversation through this interesting and delicate subject.
What Does it Mean by "Psychedelics and Autism"?
By psychedelics and autism, we mean the application of traditional psychedelic drugs to either therapeutic or research purposes in autistic individuals or individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), that is, psilocybin and autism, LSD or MDMA.
Why take into account this intersection? Since most autistic individuals have co-morbidities: social phobia, depression, sensory bombardment, inflexible thinking and behaviour. Recent studies indicate that the psychedelics could have an effect on neural networks associated with such problems.
However, these are some early days, as we should not be thinking of magic bullets yet. The Changa Institute also focuses on the fact that psychedelic-assisted therapy is not a treatment of autism itself, but it can potentially have some potential in a well-designed program in relation to some comorbidities.
What is the Rationality of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy of Autism?
You may say: What is the rationality of using psychedelic drugs when we already have behavioural treatments of autism? Splendid query, and the answer is found in a number of convergent scientific facts.
It has been demonstrated that in the case of autism, some brain networks (such as the serotonin system, thalamocortical signalling, synaptic connectivity) are not typical of neuroplastic patterns.
Psychedelics, which operate through serotonin 5-HT2A receptors and affect connectivity can be able to affect a kind of reset or modulation of certain fixed patterns - such as repetitive thoughts or social withdrawal.
Psychotherapy aided by MDMA showed great improvement in autistic people with severe social anxiety but this was only a pilot study.
Autistic members of the autistic psychedelic community state that post-controlled psychedelic experiences, they experience a sense of belonging, a better understanding of themselves, and an improvement in sensory/empathic experiences.
The point is, it is not that psychedelics can cure autism, but rather that it may assist in areas of autism where traditional treatment has failed, along with other treatment and structure.
Key Takeaways
Psilocybin to treat autism is experimental.
Such utilization should be entrenched in therapy, safety measures, and research management.
All autistic individuals will not react in a similar manner- neurology, sensory profile, comorbidities are important.
The Changa Institute has high expectations: screening, trained therapists, integration sessions.
What Is the Community of Autistic Psychedelics.?
You might have heard the term that it is autistic psychedelic or autistic psychedelic community. What does that refer to?
It is an increasing informal community of neurodivergent/autistic people who:
Use psychedelics in a deliberate manner (usually microdosing or therapeutic contexts)
Exchange experiences of sensory experiences, emotional regulation, creativity, self-identity.
Aim to re-categorize neurodivergence, not only as disruption, but also as difference--usually through psychedelics to enhance acceptance and affiliation.
To illustrate, the site AutisticPsychedelic.com also relates to the academic community, including University College London, to gather survey data on psychedelics in autistic adults.
Although this is not therapy, the community is one that is really voiced, a voice that the field must hear and heed when developing research and therapy protocols.
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: How Would it Be Used in Autism?
Ever wondered what a therapy session would look like; someone with autism on psychedelics? Here is a conceptual breakdown of the same.
Screening and Preparation
Examine comorbidities (anxiety, depression, ADHD, and epilepsy and sensory disorders)
Purpose: e.g. enhance social confidence, decrease sensory overwhelm, explore emotional self-control.
Get the person ready about what may occur: twisted perceptions, emotional resonance, images, popping deep reflections.
In this study, the researcher will employ sessions as an extended method of observation of the participants.
Supervised (psychedelic-trained neurodiversity trained therapist).
The environment and location are vital to the autistic: particularly because autistic people can be hypersensitive to the environment.
Such compounds as low-dose psilocybin can be applied; it is also essential to be supported during the experience.
Integration Phase
The post-session discussions aid in translating the insights into life.
E.g.: I will resort to breath exercises that I learned when I experience sensory overload.
Familiar structures (charts, visuals, predictable schedule) are also good to use because many autistic people are predictable.
This translation of peak experience into functional change is focused on at the Changa Institute.
What Could the Possible Advantages Be?
What can the autistic people learn through this therapy? Some of the suggested (yet experimental) benefits are as follows:
Social anxiety and avoidance behaviour minimised (as evidenced by MDMA-assisted trials)
Greater emotional awareness and self-understanding- assist in treating alexithymia (inability to recognize feelings), common in many autistic adults.
Enhanced cognitive flexibility and loss of hard and fast patterns or repetitive behaviours (theoretically, through neuroplasticity)
Enhanced sensory synthesis, certain community reports clarify that there is increased comfort with senses following psychedelics.
Greater belonging to a neurodivergent community, the so-called autistic psychedelic community makes some members feel less alone.
Big Caution Risks, Limitations and Ethics
So, on this note, the critical question is: What could go wrong? Since there is high potential, there is also high responsibility.
Risks & Limitations
Altered states might predispose the autistic individuals to sensory overload, confusion and anxiety.
The brain abnormalities in autism (e.g., in 5-HT2A receptor functioning) imply that the reaction to psychedelics might vary- and not invariably predictably.
Legal/regulatory: In the U.S., many of the substances are still Schedule I, which means that there is no generally accepted therapy of autism yet.
Absence of longitudinal information: The majority of the studies are small and short-term and tend to exclude autistic individuals.
Ethical issues: Identity, consent, autonomy, in particular to autistic individuals who might have communication differences or differences in understanding consent.
What To Do to Manage This Subject as An Autistic Person or Friend?
In case you are thinking about introducing psychedelics into your (or that of a loved one) experience, the following are steps to take:
Review local legislation: The psychedelic substances are not legal, with the exception of some trials in the U.S.
Seek expertise: Find therapists who have applied neurodiversity and psychedelic-assisted therapy training. The Changa Institute has training pathways and ethical frameworks that are recommended.
Make ahead: This is important to autistic people in particular, as it is essential to be clear in intent, predictable in form, sensory, accommodating and trusted.
Integration is important: The psychedelic session will not produce significant change when not followed through. It is all about integration planning.
Become part of the community: The psychedelic community of autism (online forums, research networks) may provide peer point of view- though never to be confused with professional advice.
Disclose comorbidities: Most autistic people have anxiety, PTSD, or epilepsy, or others, -these risk factors.
Begin with small amounts (when in legal/research context): Since neurobiology of autism can respond in different ways.
Follow-up results: Notes: What did you see? Was there relief? Did something become harder?
Conclusion
The nexus of psychedelics and autism is an intriguing, delicate and new territory. Although we are not yet at the point of psychedelics being used to treat autism as standard care, the preliminary indications are that, given the proper support, intent, setting, and assimilation, psychedelics could have some special advantages to some autistic people- especially in dealing with the issues of social phobia, emotional control, self-awareness, and sensory perception.
The term psilocybin and autism are an indication of possibility--but it is also up to individuals to take responsibility. And when we put the autistic psychedelic community in the frame of this discussion, we get lived experience, not theory. The Changa Institute is here to remind us: we should not cure autism as an illness to be forgotten, but help neurodivergent people to live their lives to the fullest and live with more connectedness on their terms.
In case you would like to go deeper, I can assist in collecting: (1) a list of existing U.S. clinical trials of psychedelics and autism, and (2) a sensory-friendly checklist focused on autistic people after a psychedelic session. Would you have me construct that?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Psychedelics as a safe intervention in autistic persons?
A: They can be secure in regulated, curative environments-but it is more dangerous when unregulated. Autistic individuals possess distinctive sensory and cognitive profiles which should be treated in a specialised manner.
Q2: What is the psilocybin in the treatment of autism?
A: It is experimental at the moment. There are some initial experiments (e.g., PSILAUT) which explore the influence of psilocybin on autistic and non-autistic brains.
Q3: What is an autistic psychedelic community?
A: It is a group of individuals with autism who discuss psychedelic drugs (research or legal) and experiences and neurodivergence, identity, and community-building.
Q4: What can Changa Institute do?
They enhance ethical, safe, evidence-based practices on psychedelic therapy and encourage practitioners with neurodiversity and psychedelics training.
Q5: What is the recommendation in the case of considering this therapy?
A: Check with professionals, check out the legality of your state, make accommodations of sensory needs, emphasize integration, and be humble and open instead of hopeful that you will cure autism.
