Open-label study of consecutive ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT assisted-therapy for trauma-exposed male Special Operations Forces Veterans: prospective data from a clinical program in Mexico

ABSTRACT

Background: Research in psychedelic medicine has focused primarily on civilian populations. Further study is needed to understand whether these treatments are effective for Veteran populations.

Objectives: Here, we examine the effectiveness of psychedelic-assisted therapy among trauma-exposed Special Operations Forces Veterans (SOFV) seeking treatment for cognitive and mental health problems in Mexico.

Methods: Data were collected from an ibogaine and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) clinical treatment program for SOFV with a history of trauma exposure. This clinical program collects prospective clinical program evaluation data, such as background characteristics, symptom severity, functioning (e.g., satisfaction with life, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, sleep disturbance, psychological flexibility, disability in functioning, cognitive functioning, neurobehavioral symptoms, anger, suicidal ideation), and substance persisting/enduring effects through online surveys at four timepoints (baseline/pre-treatment, one-, three-, and six-months after treatment).

Results: The majority of the sample (n = 86; Mean Age = 42.88, SD = 7.88) were Caucasian (87.2%), non-Hispanic (89.5%), and males (100%). There were significant and large improvements in self-reported PTSD symptoms (p < .001, d = .414), depression (p < .001, d = .275), anxiety (p < .001, d = .276), insomnia severity (p < .001, d = .351), and post-concussive symptoms (p < .001, d = .389) as well as self-reported satisfaction with life (p < .001, d = .371), psychological flexibility (p < .001, d = .313) and cognitive functioning (p < .001, d = .265) from baseline to one-month follow-up.

Conclusions: Data suggest combined ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT assisted therapy has potential to provide rapid and robust changes in mental health functioning with a signal of durable therapeutic effects up to 6-months. Future research in controlled settings is warranted.

KEYWORDS:

• Psychedelic
• special operations veterans
• trauma
• ibogaine
• 5-MeO-DMT

Acknowledgments

We also thank Martin Polanco of The Mission Within, for sharing the clinical chart data for analysis in this study.

Author contributions

All authors materially participated in the research and individually and significantly contributed to the preparation of the article. All authors have approved of the final article and provided any conflicts for inclusion in the disclosure.

Disclosure statement

AKD and LAA are board members at Source Research Foundation. AKD is a lead trainer at Fluence. Neither of these organizations were involved in this study.

Data availability statement

Data is accessible via reasonable request to the corresponding author.

Disclaimers

The views expressed herein are solely those of the authors and do not reflect an endorsement by or the official policy or position of Ohio State University, Johns Hopkins University, Baylor College of Medicine, the US Department of Veterans Affairs, or the US Government.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions. AKD is supported by the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, funded by private philanthropic funding from Tim Ferriss, Matt Mullenweg, Craig Nerenberg, Blake Mycoskie, and the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation. AKD, NS, and YX are also supported by the Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education, funded by anonymous private donors. LAA’s salary was partially supported by IK2CX001873 of the US Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Research & Development, Clinical Science Research & Development Service and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (YIA-0-04-116). The funding sources have had no involvement in the study design, the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, the writing of this report, or the decision to submit this article for publication.