Magnesium-ibogaine therapy in veterans with traumatic brain injuries.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Prospective single-arm observational study (case series) without a control group
PubMed 38182784 · doi:10.1038/s41591-023-02705-w
What was done
A prospective open-label observational study evaluated the Magnesium-Ibogaine: the Stanford Traumatic Injury to the CNS protocol, administered alongside complementary treatment modalities, in 30 male Special Operations Forces veterans with predominantly mild traumatic brain injury. The primary outcome was functional change assessed by the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule immediately post-treatment. Secondary outcomes assessed at 1 month included functional disability, PTSD symptoms (Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5), depression (Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale), and anxiety (Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale).
What was found
Functioning improved significantly immediately post-treatment (corrected P < 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.74) and at 1 month (corrected P < 0.001, d = 2.20). At 1 month post-treatment, significant reductions were also reported for PTSD (corrected P < 0.001, d = 2.54), depression (corrected P < 0.001, d = 2.80), and anxiety (corrected P < 0.001, d = 2.13). No unexpected or serious adverse events were observed.
Why it matters
This study provides preliminary human evidence regarding the feasibility and clinical trajectory of magnesium-ibogaine therapy for military veterans with traumatic brain injury and associated neuropsychiatric conditions.
Limits
The trial lacked a randomized control or placebo arm, preventing attribution of effects specifically to ibogaine versus expectation bias, natural recovery, or concurrent complementary treatments. The sample was small (n = 30), entirely male, restricted to Special Operations veterans, and limited to a 1-month follow-up.
Cited by
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