The Ibogaine Experience: A Qualitative Study on the Acute Subjective Effects of Ibogaine
Maja Kohek, Maurice Ohren, Paul Hornby, Miguel Ángel Alcázar‐córcoles, José Carlos Bouso
Anthropology of Consciousness March 1, 2020 DOI: 10.1111/anoc.12119 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 20 |
| Population | Individuals who had recently taken ibogaine |
| Intervention | Ibogaine |
| Topics | Ibogaine |
| Keywords | Prosocial behavior Empathy Cognition Developmental psychology |
| Citations | 20 |
| Key findings | Ibogaine's acute subjective effects include eight categories and ten subcategories, encompassing physical, sensory, visual, cognitive, auditory, adverse, anti-dependency, and after-effects, with subcategories such as ego dissolution, empathy, and spiritual states. |
Abstract
Abstract Ibogaine is the most abundant alkaloid present in the African shrub Tabernanthe iboga . As a result of the lack of research on the acute subjective effects, the purpose of this study was to identify categories of the ibogaine experience and gain a better understanding of the internal processes while under its effects. We created a semistructured interview and recruited twenty individuals who had recently taken ibogaine. The interviews were analyzed according to grounded theory approach. We identified eight categories (physical, sensory, visual, cognitive, auditory, adverse, anti‐dependency agent, after‐effects) and ten subcategories (open eye visuals; closed eye visuals: ancestors and entities, sceneries and landscapes, horrific scenarios; self‐psychoanalysis enhancement; empathy, love, and prosocial behavior; catharsis; observer quality; ego dissolution; spiritual states) of the acute subjective effects of ibogaine. The study contributes to the advancement of our understanding of ibogaine and its role in personal growth, prosocial behavior, therapeutic use, and anti‐dependency treatments.