Autism, youth suicide, and psychedelics: A review of the 21st century evidence.

Autism and youth suicide have both become more common, drawing public health concern. The recent revival of psychedelic research in psychiatry offers a possible treatment avenue, because psychedelics affect serotonin and glutamate systems that are involved in both autism and suicide. This systematic review examines global and Taiwan-specific trends in autism and youth suicide prevalence, reviews clinical and preclinical evidence linking autism and suicidality, proposes a neurobiological connection among autism, suicide, and psychedelics, and discusses potential therapeutic uses of psychedelics for these conditions.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The concurrent rise in the prevalence of autism and youth suicide has drawn public health and professional attention. The renaissance of psychedelics in psychiatry occurred in the early 21st century and may suggest a hope for the therapeutic effect of psychedelics in autism and suicide. The psychedelics' molecular entities are the compounds that modulate the serotoninergic and glutamatergic systems, which play a crucial role in the pathomechanisms underlying autism and suicide. This systematic review comprehensively discussed the prevalence trends of autism and youth suicide globally and in Taiwan and discussed an association between autism and suicidality based on the 21st century clinical and preclinical literature. Furthermore, this review proposed a possible neurobiological connection between autism, suicide, and psychedelics. Finally, this review discussed the potential therapeutic applications of psychedelics in autism and youth suicide.