Examination of the Phenomenology of the Ibogaine Treatment Experience: Role of Altered States of Consciousness and Psychedelic Experiences.
Annamarie Heink, Steve Katsikas, Tiffany Lange-Altman
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 2017 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2017.1290855 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Retrospective survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 27 |
| Population | Individuals who used ibogaine in the past |
| Intervention | Ibogaine |
| Topics | Altered states of consciousness Ibogaine Psychedelic-assisted therapy Philosophy of mind |
| Keywords | Addiction treatment Psychedelics Psychedelic experiences Opiate addiction Heroin addiction Reduced cravings Therapeutic potential Improved outcomes Personal change |
| Citations | 35 |
| Key findings | Positive correlations were found between dimensions of altered states of consciousness induced by ibogaine and treatment outcomes such as ability to make changes, reduced cravings, and personal change. |
Abstract
Psychedelic drugs have historically been used for ritualistic purposes and to help individuals gain insight. Ibogaine, a naturally occurring psychoactive substance, has been reported to have anti-addictive properties that aid in the treatment of substance use disorders. An online survey obtained retrospective data from individuals who used ibogaine in the past. Individuals who used ibogaine tended to describe thematically similar experiences post-treatment. This study adds to the literature by using the 5d-ASC, a psychometrically sound measure of altered states of consciousness (ASCs), to examine the ASCs induced by ibogaine and discusses the demographic characteristics of those who seek ibogaine treatment (N = 27). The study also examined several aspects of ibogaine treatment experience, including reasons for seeking treatment, course of treatment, and treatment outcome. Results indicated a positive correlation between the various dimensions of the ASCs and the outcome (ability to make changes in one's life, cravings, and how changed the person was as a result of ibogaine treatment). While this study is limited in generalizability due to high attrition and low sample size, it deepens the understanding of the phenomenological experience of ibogaine and explores the possible utility of ibogaine in the treatment of substance use disorders.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on ibogaine, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Not Losing Momentum: Cross-Sectional Insights into Ibogaine Clinical Trials. Clinical trials of ibogaine for substance use disorders | 2025 | Cross-sectional study | n = 9 |
| Adverse Health Outcomes of Psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, Ibogaine, and 5-MeO-DMT Nationally representative sample of US adults | 2026 | Cross-sectional survey |
Citations in the library
Cited by 29
- A systematic literature review of clinical trials and therapeutic applications of ibogaine. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment July 1, 2022
- Magnesium-ibogaine therapy in veterans with traumatic brain injuries. Nature Medicine February 1, 2024
- Defining Transformative Experiences: A Conceptual Analysis Frontiers in Psychology June 24, 2022
- Safety of ibogaine administration in detoxification of opioid-dependent individuals: a descriptive open-label observational study. Addiction 2022
- Ibogaine and Subjective Experience: Transformative States and Psychopharmacotherapy in the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 2019
and 24 more in the library
Cites 10
- Psychometric Evaluation of the Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale (OAV) PLoS One August 31, 2010
- The Standardized Psychometric Assessment of Altered States of Consciousness (ASCs) in Humans Pharmacopsychiatry July 1, 1998
- The ibogaine medical subculture. Journal of Ethnopharmacology January 4, 2008
- Ibogaine: complex pharmacokinetics, concerns for safety, and preliminary efficacy measures. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences September 1, 2000
- Medication Development of Ibogaine as a Pharmacotherapy for Drug Dependencea. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences May 1, 1998
and 5 more in the library