The first clinical trial in adults on the autism spectrum investigating MDMA, or any psychedelic substance for that matter, was published in Psychopharmacology this week [1]. This groundbreaking research looked at whether MDMA combined with psychotherapy could help with the severe social anxiety that autistic adults commonly experience. The drug-therapy combo wasn’t intended to be a treatment for autism itself but was evaluated to see if it could possibly relieve some of the symptoms that limit social adaptability and often affect quality of life.

Twelve study participants were given MDMA or placebo during two all-day therapy sessions with additional non-drug preparatory and integrative therapy sessions. The main findings of this pilot study showed marked improvements in social anxiety and less avoidance of social interactions for the group that received MDMA. Most importantly, limited doses of MDMA in the controlled clinical setting was safe and well tolerated in adults on the autism spectrum.

The rationale for this double-blind study came after a review of accounts in online discussion forums of unsolicited anecdotal reports of MDMA/Ecstasy use in autistic adults in non-medical settings suggested that some had better overall functioning and others had reduced symptoms of anxiety [2]. For her dissertation research, Dr. Alicia Danforth conducted interviews and collected survey data about the MDMA experiences of autistic adults. The survey found that 91% of participants reported “increased feelings of empathy/connectedness” and 86% experienced “ease of communication” during MDMA/Ecstasy that persisted after use.

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