A plant-derived psychedelic has significantly reduced PTSD, anxiety and depression in military veterans with brain injuries, according to a new Stanford Medicine study.
Ibogaine, combined with magnesium to reduce cardiac risk, was given to 30 special operations veterans with blast-related traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
Researchers observed marked improvements in mental health and functioning within a month.
Dr Nolan Williams, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioural sciences, said: “No other drug has ever been able to alleviate the functional and neuropsychiatric symptoms of traumatic brain injury.
“The results are dramatic, and we intend to study this compound further.”
Brain imaging showed increased theta brain waves and reduced cortical complexity in those who improved—patterns linked to neuroplasticity and reduced stress responses.
Average reductions reported were 88 per cent in PTSD symptoms, 87 per cent in depression and 81 per cent in anxiety.
Disability scores dropped from 30.2 to 5.1, indicating a move from moderate disability to no disability.
TBI, caused by external force such as explosions or blunt impacts, affects hundreds of thousands of veterans from deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.
It is often linked to long-term psychiatric conditions that resist standard treatments.
All study participants had severe psychiatric symptoms and disabilities linked to TBI.
Before treatment, 23 met criteria for PTSD, 14 had anxiety disorders, 15 had alcohol use disorder, 19 had experienced suicidal ideation and seven had attempted suicide.
Treatment was carried out at the Ambio Life Sciences clinic in Mexico, with participants independently organising care through VETS, Inc., a non-profit that supports psychedelic therapy for veterans.
No serious side effects were reported; participants experienced typical symptoms such as nausea and headaches.
Based in part on these findings, Texas has approved a US$50m state-backed initiative to fund ibogaine clinical trials, with the funding set to be matched by private investment—making it one of the largest public investments in psychedelic therapy to date.
Dr Williams said the findings may extend beyond TBI: “In addition to treating TBI, I think this may emerge as a broader neuro-rehab drug.
“I think it targets a unique set of brain mechanisms and can help us better understand how to treat other forms of PTSD, anxiety and depression that aren’t necessarily linked to TBI.”
