Is ibogaine treatment durable? 12-month follow-up of magnesium–ibogaine therapy (MISTIC) in Special Operations Veterans with traumatic brain injuries
Camarin E. Rolle, Nolan Williams, Afik Faerman, Jennifer I. Lissemore, Andrew Geoly, Kirsten Cherian, Malvika Sridhar, Bora Kim, John P. Coetzee, Lauren Anker, Ahmed Shamma, Nimrod Jackob Keynan, Randi Brown, Angela Phillips, Ashley Jester, Nicholas J. Bassano, Flint M. Espil, Ian H. Kratter
Research Square December 17, 2025 preprint DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6909189/v1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Prospective long-term follow-up study Randomized |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 30 |
| Population | Male U.S. Special Operations Veterans with a history of traumatic brain injury |
| Intervention | magnesium-ibogaine |
| Duration | 12-month follow-up |
| Topics | Anxiety Ibogaine |
| Keywords | Randomized controlled trial Clinical trial Poison control Persistence discontinuity Depression economics Posttraumatic stress Physical therapy Medline |
| Key points | A single treatment with magnesium-ibogaine was associated with robust and sustained reductions in disability, PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms through 12 months post-treatment, with large effect sizes and high probabilities of remission. |
Abstract
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 improvements in functional and psychiatric outcomes up to one month after a single treatment with magnesium-ibogaine in male U.S. Special Operations Veterans with a history of TBI. However, further evidence on the durability of these effects is needed. In this prospective long-term follow-up study, we evaluated the persistence of these clinical improvements over the subsequent year. Participants underwent comprehensive baseline and post-treatment assessments, with follow-up evaluations conducted at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Of 30 participants treated with magnesium-ibogaine, 25 completed the 12-month follow-up assessments. Outcome measures included a self-report measure of functional disability and clinician-administered assessments of psychiatric symptoms. Results demonstrated robust and sustained reductions in disability, PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms through 12 months post-treatment, with large effect sizes (Cohen’s d ≥ 2.18 at 12 months). Survival analyses estimated the probability of sustained remission at 12 months as 84% for PTSD, 66% for depression, and 61% for anxiety. These findings suggest that ibogaine treatment may lead to durable, clinically meaningful improvements in TBI-related symptoms. Further investigation through randomized controlled trials is warranted to validate these promising preliminary results.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on ibogaine, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treatment of opioid use disorder with ibogaine: detoxification and drug use outcomes. Adults with DSM-IV opioid dependence | 2018 | Observational study | n = 30 |
| Ibogaine treatment outcomes for opioid dependence from a twelve-month follow-up observational study. Individuals receiving legal ibogaine treatment for opioid dependence in New Zealand | 2018 | Observational study | n = 14 |
| Ibogaine: complex pharmacokinetics, concerns for safety, and preliminary efficacy measures. Drug-dependent persons undergoing inpatient detoxification | 2000 | Observational study | |
| Treating drug dependence with the aid of ibogaine: a retrospective study. Former alcohol, cannabis, cocaine and crack users (72% poly-drug users) | 2014 | Retrospective analysis | n = 75 |
| Magnesium-ibogaine therapy in veterans with traumatic brain injuries. Male Special Operations Forces veterans with predominantly mild traumatic brain injury | 2024 | Prospective observational study | n = 30 |
Citations in the library
Cites 11
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- Efficacy and safety of psychedelics for the treatment of mental disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychiatry Research May 1, 2024
and 6 more in the library