The ibogaine experience: a qualitative study on the acute subjective effects of ibogaine
Authors:
Maja Kohek, Maurice Ohren, Paul Hornby, Miguel Ángel Alcázar-Córcoles, and José Carlos Bouso.
Journal:
Anthropology of Consciousness
Year:
2020
About the study
This study investigates the physical and psychological aspects of the experience with ibogaine, extracting categories that can be used to improve the assessment of the subjective effects of ibogaine and other psychedelics.
We studied personal experiences with ibogaine by collecting testimonies and extracting relevant categories from the data. After reviewing the literature on the topic, we constructed a semi-structured interview in order to fill the gaps found in previous papers.
The effects of ibogaine seem to differ greatly from classical serotoninergic hallucinogens. The new categories we found may serve for a better understanding of iboga and ibogaine, reflecting its potential in personal growth, prosocial behavior, psychotherapy, and anti-dependency treatments.
Abstract
Rationale: 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.
Methods: 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.
Results: 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.
Photo by Pxhere.
Categories:
Studies & papers
, Iboga and ibogaine
Tags:
ibogaine
, scientific research
, study
, Bwiti
, interview
, drug dependence
, prosocial behaviour
, acute subjective effects