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.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on ibogaine, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The ibogaine medical subculture. Individuals who had taken ibogaine in the global medical subculture | 2008 | Ethnographic study with systematic quantitative data collection | n = 3,414 |
| A phenomenological analysis of the subjective experience elicited by ibogaine in the context of a drug dependence treatment Patients with substance-related disorders | 2017 | Qualitative study | n = 22 |
| A Mixed-Method Analysis of Persisting Effects Associated with Positive Outcomes Following Ibogaine Detoxification. Patients who received treatment for chronic opioid use in Mexico between 2012 and 2015 | 2018 | Retrospective mixed-methods study | n = 73 |
| Treating drug dependence with the aid of ibogaine: A qualitative study Patients with substance use disorders, including psychostimulant users | 2017 | Qualitative study | |
| A phenomenological investigation into the lived experience of ibogaine and its potential to treat opioid use disorders Individuals who underwent ibogaine treatment for an opioid use disorder | 2018 | Qualitative study |
Citations in the library
Cited by 19
- The Bright Side of Psychedelics: Latest Advances and Challenges in Neuropharmacology International Journal of Molecular Sciences January 10, 2023
- Entity encounters and the therapeutic effect of the psychedelic mystical experience Journal of Psychedelic Studies January 15, 2021
- Main targets of ibogaine and noribogaine associated with its putative anti-addictive effects: A mechanistic overview. Journal of Psychopharmacology December 1, 2023
- Underground ibogaine use for the treatment of substance use disorders: A qualitative analysis of subjective experiences. Drug and Alcohol Review February 1, 2023
- The Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelics in Treating Substance Use Disorders: A Review of Clinical Trials Medicina February 6, 2025
and 14 more in the library
Cites 18
- The Standardized Psychometric Assessment of Altered States of Consciousness (ASCs) in Humans Pharmacopsychiatry July 1, 1998
- Ego-Dissolution and Psychedelics: Validation of the Ego-Dissolution Inventory (EDI) Frontiers in Human Neuroscience June 14, 2016
- Dose-Response Study of N,N-Dimethyltryptamine in Humans Archives of General Psychiatry February 1, 1994
- Factor Analysis of the Mystical Experience Questionnaire: A Study of Experiences Occasioned by the Hallucinogen Psilocybin Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion December 1, 2012
- Peak experiences and the afterglow phenomenon: When and how do therapeutic effects of hallucinogens depend on psychedelic experiences? Journal of Psychopharmacology February 9, 2015
and 13 more in the library