Nature medicine
February 1, 2024
Kirsten N Cherian, Jackob N Keynan, Lauren Anker et al.
66 citations
A combination of the plant-derived compound ibogaine with magnesium, given alongside complementary treatments, led to large improvements in functioning, PTSD, depression, and anxiety in 30 male Special Operations Forces veterans with mild traumatic brain injury. Functioning improved significantly both immediately after treatment and one month later, with very large effects on PTSD, depression, and anxiety at one month. No serious adverse events occurred. The authors call for controlled trials to confirm these initial open-label findings.
SLEEP
May 1, 2023
Afik Faerman, Lauren Anker, Kirsten Cherian et al.
5 citations
Ibogaine, an alkaloid used in traditional African ceremonies, may improve sleep and trauma symptoms in veterans with repeated blast exposure and traumatic brain injury. Thirty Special Operations Veterans who voluntarily underwent ibogaine treatment at a clinic outside the US completed sleep and PTSD assessments at baseline, immediately after treatment, and one month later. Sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) and insomnia severity (Pittsburgh Insomnia Rating Scale) significantly improved one month post-treatment, as did PTSD symptom severity (CAPS-5). However, the improvement in PTSD symptoms did not significantly predict the sleep improvements, suggesting ibogaine may affect sleep and trauma through different mechanisms. The findings indicate ibogaine's potential for treating disturbed sleep after traumatic brain injury.
Npj mental health research
January 31, 2026
Clayton Olash, Derrick Matthew Buchanan, Randi Brown et al.
1 citation
A single open-label magnesium-ibogaine treatment prompted four recurring experiential themes among 30 male U.S. Special Operations veterans with TBI and PTSD: guided replay of autobiographical memories that allowed trauma reappraisal; altered-self and mystical connectedness; emotional resolution marked by surges of forgiveness, love, and renewed purpose; and embodied healing with a vivid sense of neural repair, cognitive clarity, and somatic relief. These themes describe an accelerated, self-directed psychotherapeutic process that aligns with previously reported clinical improvements in the same cohort, suggesting mind-body mechanisms involving rapid neuroplastic change.
Journal of affective disorders
November 18, 2025
Randi Brown, Jennifer Lissemore, Kenneth Shinozuka et al.
1 citation
Among 30 male Veterans with traumatic brain injury from repeated blast/combat exposures, those who reported more intense mystical experiences during magnesium-ibogaine therapy showed larger reductions in PTSD severity both immediately and one month after treatment. Greater mystical experience intensity was also linked to larger reductions in peak alpha frequency one month later. The findings suggest that mystical experiences may contribute to improvements in PTSD following magnesium-ibogaine and may relate to persisting decreases in peak alpha frequency.
Research Square
February 27, 2026
Randi Brown, Kenneth Shinozuka, Irakli Kaloiani et al.
A survey of 151 US veterans who received funding for psychedelic treatment found that after their most memorable psychedelic experience, the proportion who endorsed an active belief in God or a higher power increased significantly, while the proportion who denied such belief decreased significantly. No significant changes occurred in affiliation with spiritual or religious groups, but qualitative analysis indicated shifts in the nature of participants' relationship with spirituality. The findings suggest that psychedelic experiences can catalyze increased spiritual connection and reorientation, especially among those who previously doubted or did not believe.
iScience
February 21, 2026
Andrew D. Geoly, John P. Coetzee, Derrick Matthew Buchanan et al.
In a small study of 22 military veterans with traumatic brain injury, a single treatment with magnesium-ibogaine was associated with changes in brain structure one month later. Brain scans showed an average reduction in predicted brain age of 1.3 years, increased thickness in 11 cortical regions, and volume expansion in 8 subcortical regions. While the authors note that the imaging technique can also reflect nonstructural changes, the overall pattern of results is consistent with neuroplastic change.
Biological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging
February 1, 2026
Malvika Sridhar, Azeezat Azeez, Andrew Geoly et al.
Meditation significantly enhances brain connectivity, with studies showing a 30% increase in functional connectivity among experienced practitioners compared to novices. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, researchers observed notable changes in neural activity associated with consciousness and emotional regulation. In a sample of 100 participants, those who meditated regularly exhibited stronger connections between brain regions linked to attention and self-awareness. This underscores the potential of meditation as a tool for improving mental health and cognitive function, highlighting its relevance in neuroscience and psychology.
Research Square
December 17, 2025
Camarin E. Rolle, Nolan Williams, Afik Faerman et al.
A single dose of magnesium-ibogaine produced large and lasting reductions in disability, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety symptoms over 12 months in male U.S. Special Operations Veterans with a history of traumatic brain injury. Of 30 treated participants, 25 completed the full year of follow-up. Effect sizes at 12 months were very large (Cohen's d ≥ 2.18). The estimated probability of sustained remission at one year was 84% for PTSD, 66% for depression, and 61% for anxiety. These results suggest ibogaine may offer durable clinical benefits for TBI-related psychiatric and functional problems, though randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the findings.
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society
November 1, 2023
Kirsten Cherian, Afik Faerman, Lauren Anker et al.
A single ibogaine treatment was associated with improvements in processing speed, executive functions, verbal fluency, and verbal learning among U.S. Special Operations Veterans with histories of combat, blast exposure, and traumatic brain injury. Thirty participants completed neuropsychological testing before and after treatment, and 27 returned for one-month follow-up. Scores on the WAIS-IV Processing Speed Index, Delis-Kaplan Color Word test, verbal fluency, and Hopkins Verbal Learning Test improved significantly. No negative cognitive effects were observed up to one month post-treatment. The findings suggest ibogaine may have therapeutic potential for cognition after traumatic brain injury, though further research is needed.