medRxiv
July 22, 2026
Kenneth Shinozuka, Clayton Olash, Tracy Han et al.
preprint
Preliminary evidence suggests that the combination of magnesium and ibogaine, an atypical psychedelic, may be a promising treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), opioid use disorder, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). The "mystical" experience elicited by ibogaine, which is characterized by feelings of awe, selflessness, and transcendence, is correlated with improvements in PTSD...
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
March 24, 2026
Kenneth Shinozuka, Mattia Rosso, Anna Chaiken et al.
1 citation
Abstract Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition that affects millions of veterans. A recent observational study in 30 veterans showed that a single dose of the atypical psychedelic ibogaine can be highly effective at treating PTSD up to twelve months later. Although a prior study demonstrated that ibogaine transiently alters electroencephalography (EEG) power in...
iScience
February 21, 2026
Andrew Geoly, John P. Coetzee, Derrick Matthew Buchanan et al.
= 22). Longitudinal analyses assessed cortical thickness, subcortical volume, and predicted brain age (pBA), estimated from T1 scans. pBA was significantly reduced at 1 month relative to baseline (-1.3 years). Cortical thickness analysis revealed post-treatment increases in 11 regions. Subcortical analyses revealed significant volumetric expansion in 8 regions. Magnesium-ibogaine therapy was...
Biological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging
February 1, 2026
Malvika Sridhar, Azeezat Azeez, Andrew Geoly et al.
BackgroundIbogaine was recently found to result in significant functional improvements in treating the sequelae of traumatic brain injury (TBI) among Special Operations Forces veterans (SOVs). In the current study, we used multimodal neuroimaging to elucidate the neural correlates of ibogaine in 30 male SOVs who received ibogaine treatment.MethodsArterial spin labeling and blood oxygen...
npj Mental Health Research
January 31, 2026
Clayton Olash, Derrick Matthew Buchanan, Randi Brown et al.
1 citation
Magnesium-ibogaine, a formulation combining ibogaine with pre- and post-treatment magnesium, was recently found to yield rapid clinical improvements in U.S. Special Operations veterans with TBI and PTSD. Yet, its therapeutic phenomenology during such healing is unknown. We analyzed post-session narratives from 30 male veterans who, after a single open-label magnesium-ibogaine treatment,...
Research Square
December 17, 2025
Camarin E. Rolle, Nolan Williams, Afik Faerman et al.
Abstract Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can result in chronic functional disability and is associated with persistent psychiatric symptoms, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. Ibogaine, an oneirogenic alkaloid with unique pharmacological properties, has shown initial promise as a potential treatment for TBI-related sequelae. We previously observed large...
Journal of Affective Disorders
November 18, 2025
Randi Brown, Jennifer I. Lissemore, Kenneth Shinozuka et al.
1 citation
Ibogaine is an atypical psychedelic that evokes unique subjective effects, including mystical experiences. Mystical experiences have shown a mediating effect on clinical improvements following treatment with several psychedelic substances; however, the relationship between mystical experiences and clinical outcomes following ibogaine remains unclear. We examined the association between mystical...
American Journal of Therapeutics
March 1, 2024
Kirsten Cherian, Kenneth Shinozuka, Burton J. Tabaac et al.
9 citations
BACKGROUND: Ibogaine is a plant-derived alkaloid that has been used for thousands of years in rites of passage and spiritual ceremonies in West-Central Africa. In the West, it has primarily been used and studied for its anti-addictive properties and more recently for other neuropsychiatric indications, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and traumatic brain injury....
Nature Medicine
February 1, 2024
Kirsten Cherian, Jackob N. Keynan, Lauren Anker et al.
66 citations
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of disability. Sequelae can include functional impairments and psychiatric syndromes such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety. Special Operations Forces (SOF) veterans (SOVs) may be at an elevated risk for these complications, leading some to seek underexplored treatment alternatives such as the oneirogen ibogaine, a...
December 27, 2023
Owen S. Muir, Kenneth Shinozuka, Bryce D. Beutler et al.
preprint
The reviews in this special edition have presented a primer on the state of the literature for six different psychedelic compounds and their plausible role in medicine. In a common format underscoring strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats (SWOT), this article addresses how psychedelic compounds fit into the broader healthcare landscape for indicated conditions. Historically,...
December 26, 2023
Burton J. Tabaac, Kenneth Shinozuka, Alejandro Arenas et al.
preprint
Background: Psychedelic drugs have recently emerged as plausibly effective pharmacological agents for the management of depression, anxiety, and other neuropsychiatric conditions, including conditions that have not benefited from prior interventions. The latter half of the twentieth century marked a revolution in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and psychosis, exemplified by the...
December 26, 2023
Kirsten Cherian, Kenneth Shinozuka, Burton J. Tabaac et al.
preprint
Background: Ibogaine is a plant-derived alkaloid that has been used for thousands of years in rites of passage and spiritual ceremonies in West-Central Africa. In the West, it has primarily been used and studied for its anti-addictive properties and more recently for other neuropsychiatric indications, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and traumatic brain...
December 26, 2023
Burton J. Tabaac, Kenneth Shinozuka, Alejandro Arenas et al.
preprint
Background: The primary psychoactive drug in magic mushrooms, psilocybin induces profound alterations in consciousness through its action at the 5-HT2A receptor. This comprehensive review consolidates current research findings to elucidate the pharmacology, safety profile, and clinical applications of psilocybin.Areas of Uncertainty: Despite initial concerns that psilocybin could cause...
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society
November 1, 2023
Kirsten Cherian, Afik Faerman, Lauren Anker et al.
Objective: To determine the effects of the non-classic psychedelic, ibogaine, on cognitive functioning. Ibogaine is an indole alkaloid derived from the Tabernanthe Iboga plant family, indigenous to Africa, and traditionally used in spiritual and healing ceremonies. Ibogaine has primarily been studied with respect to its clinical efficacy in reducing substance addiction. There are, however,...
Sleep
May 1, 2023
Afik Faerman, Lauren Anker, Kirsten Cherian et al.
5 citations
Abstract Introduction Ibogaine is an indole alkaloid traditionally used in spiritual and healing rites in some African cultures. Ibogaine is primarily studied in the context of substance dependence, but indications suggest it may enhance recovery from trauma. Here, we investigated the effects of ibogaine treatment for multisystem effects of exposure to repeated blasts and combat on...
American Journal of Therapeutics
Burton J. Tabaac, Kenneth Shinozuka, Alejandro Arenas et al.
14 citations
The primary psychoactive drug in magic mushrooms, psilocybin, induces profound alterations in consciousness through the 5-HT2A receptor. This review consolidates current research findings to elucidate the pharmacology, safety profile, and clinical applications of psilocybin. Despite initial concerns that psilocybin could cause psychosis, contemporary research has demonstrated that psilocybin is...
American Journal of Therapeutics
Kenneth Shinozuka, Burton J. Tabaac, Alejandro Arenas et al.
12 citations
N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a naturally occurring serotonergic psychedelic found in natural plants around the globe. As the main psychoactive component in ayahuasca, which also contains monoamine oxidase inhibitors, DMT has been consumed as plant-based brew by indigenous peoples for centuries. Further research is required to delineate the therapeutic utility of DMT. Although previous...
American Journal of Therapeutics
Burton J. Tabaac, Kenneth Shinozuka, Alejandro Arenas et al.
12 citations
Psychedelic drugs have recently emerged as plausibly effective pharmacological agents for the management of depression, anxiety, and other neuropsychiatric conditions, including those that are treatment-resistent. The latter half of the 20th century marked a revolution in the treatment of mental illnesses, exemplified by the introduction of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and other...
American Journal of Therapeutics
Bryce D. Beutler, Kenneth Shinozuka, Burton J. Tabaac et al.
11 citations
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a hallucinogenic agent. In the mid-20th century, it was used to augment psychoanalysis and to treat alcohol use disorder. However, LSD was banned in 1970 in part because of concerns that it could bring about or exacerbate mental illness. Its therapeutic potential remains incompletely understood. While uncontrolled recreational use of LSD can, in rare...
American Journal of Therapeutics
Viviana D. Evans, Alejandro Arenas, Kenneth Shinozuka et al.
10 citations
Ketamine, an arylcyclohexylamine dissociative anesthetic agent, has evolved into a versatile therapeutic. It has a rapid-onset, well-understood cardiovascular effects and a favorable safety profile in clinical use. Its enantiomeric compound, esketamine, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2019 for both treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder with suicidal...
American Journal of Therapeutics
Owen S. Muir, Kenneth Shinozuka, Bryce D. Beutler et al.
5 citations
The reviews in this special edition have presented a primer on the state of the literature for 7 different psychedelic compounds and their plausible roles in medicine. In a common format underscoring strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats (SWOT), this article addresses how psychedelic compounds fit into the broader health care landscape for indicated conditions. Historically,...
American Journal of Therapeutics
Kenneth Shinozuka, Burton J. Tabaac, Alejandro Arenas et al.
After becoming notorious for its use as a party drug in the 1980s, 3,4-methylenedioxy-methampetamine (MDMA), also known by its street names "molly" and "ecstasy," has emerged as a powerful treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There are extensive data about the risk profile of MDMA. However, the literature is significantly biased. Animal models demonstrating neurotoxic or adverse...
Kenneth Shinozuka, Burton J. Tabaac, Alejandro Arenas et al.
preprint
Background: N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a naturally-occurring serotonergic psychedelic found in natural plants around the globe. As the main psychoactive component in ayahuasca, which also contains monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, DMT has been consumed as plant-based brew by indigenous peoples for centuries. Further research is required to delineate the therapeutic utility of DMT.Areas...
Bryce D. Beutler, Kenneth Shinozuka, Burton J. Tabaac et al.
preprint
Background: Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a hallucinogenic agent. In the mid-20th century, it was used to augment psychoanalysis and to treat alcohol use disorder. However, LSD was banned in 1970 in part due to concerns that it could bring about or exacerbate mental illness. Its therapeutic potential remains incompletely understood.Areas of Uncertainty: While uncontrolled recreational use...
Kenneth Shinozuka, Burton J. Tabaac, Alejandro Arenas et al.
preprint
Background: After becoming notorious for its use as a party drug in the 1980s, 3,4-methylenedioxy-methampetamine (MDMA), also known by its street names “molly” and “ecstasy,” has emerged as a powerful treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Areas of uncertainty: There is extensive data about the risk profile of MDMA. However, the literature is significantly biased. Animal models...