Research summary: peer-reviewed study

One-Year Outcomes of Magnesium–Ibogaine Therapy in U.S. Special Operations Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury

A 12-month follow-up of the MISTIC cohort found that most veterans whose PTSD, depression or anxiety remitted after a single treatment were still in remission a year later.

Stanford University School of Medicine

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford, California

Journal: Translational Psychiatry (Nature Portfolio)
Published: 12 August 2026
Study design: Prospective observational cohort, 12-month follow-up
Participants: 30 male veterans; 25 completed 12 months
Senior author: Nolan R. Williams, MD
DOI: 10.1038/s41398-026-04327-5

Avante Ibogaine Institute did not take part in this study. Participants were treated at an independent clinic in Mexico. This page summarises the published findings for patients and families.

Summary

Background: In 2024, the same research group reported large short-term reductions in PTSD, depression and anxiety one month after ibogaine treatment combined with magnesium.² Whether those gains last had not been studied.
Methods: Veterans were reassessed by a neuropsychologist at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after treatment. Remission was tracked for each condition separately.
Results: Among veterans who reached remission early, the estimated probability of remaining in remission at 12 months was 84% for PTSD, 66% for depression and 61% for anxiety. Reductions in functional disability also persisted.¹
Conclusion: The findings suggest durable benefit, but the study had no control group, and most participants received other treatments during follow-up.

Study population and treatment

The cohort was made up of U.S. Special Operations veterans with a history of traumatic brain injury and persistent psychiatric symptoms. Each received a single oral dose of ibogaine under medical supervision. Intravenous magnesium was given alongside it to reduce the risk of heart-rhythm complications. Treatment was funded by the non-profit Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS).³

Table 1. Study characteristics
Population	Male U.S. Special Operations veterans with traumatic brain injury
Enrolled	30
Completed 12-month follow-up	25
Intervention	Single oral dose of ibogaine with intravenous magnesium
Assessments	Baseline, 1 month, then 3, 6, 9 and 12 months
Control group	None

Findings

Short-term response (published 2024)

Of the 23 veterans who met diagnostic criteria for PTSD before treatment, 19 no longer met them shortly afterwards. At one month, average symptom scores were substantially lower than at baseline.²

Table 2. Average reduction in symptom scores, baseline to one month
Condition	Reduction
PTSD	88%
Depression	87%
Anxiety	81%

Durability at 12 months (published 2026)

The follow-up study asked how many early responders were still in remission a year later.¹

PTSD

84%

Depression

66%

Anxiety

61%

Figure 1. Estimated probability of sustained remission at 12 months, among veterans who reached remission soon after treatment.

Interpreting the results

The investigators note several limits that matter when reading these figures.¹

No control group. Without a comparison group, improvement cannot be attributed to ibogaine with certainty.
Additional treatment after month one. During follow-up, 12 participants received therapy or counselling, 3 started psychiatric medication, and 23 used at least one other psychedelic, most often 5-MeO-DMT. Participants who had no further treatment also appeared to maintain improvement, but that group was small.
Narrow population. All participants were male Special Operations veterans with brain injury. The study did not examine substance use disorders, and results may differ in other groups.

Safety considerations

Ibogaine can affect heart rhythm, and serious adverse events, including deaths, have been reported when it is taken without medical oversight. In this study, treatment took place in a monitored medical setting, and magnesium was used as a cardiac precaution. Anyone considering ibogaine treatment should expect a full cardiac work-up, including an ECG, a review of all current medications, and continuous monitoring during treatment. See our treatment qualification criteria.

Two earlier studies, led by Alan K. Davis, PhD, examined veterans who received ibogaine followed by 5-MeO-DMT at a clinical program in Mexico.

Table 3. Earlier veteran studies
Study	Design	Reported outcome
Johns Hopkins University and The Ohio State University, Chronic Stress, 2020⁵	Retrospective survey of 51 Special Operations veterans	Large self-reported reductions in PTSD, depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation
The Ohio State University, American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 2023⁴	Prospective clinical program data	Improvements in mental health and cognitive functioning after treatment

Neither study had a control group. Both relied mainly on self-reported outcomes.

Research outlook

Ibogaine has been a Schedule I substance in the United States since 1970, which has limited clinical research. In April 2026, a U.S. executive order directed faster research and regulatory review of psychedelic treatments for serious mental illness. The Stanford group plans its next ibogaine study in Ukrainian refugees with war-related PTSD.³ Randomised controlled trials are still needed.

Questions about medical screening, eligibility or what this research means for you? Our clinical team can walk you through it.

Contact Avante's Clinical Team

This summary is provided for educational purposes and is not medical advice. It does not describe outcomes at Avante Ibogaine Institute. Ibogaine is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Consult a qualified physician before making any treatment decision.

References and citations

Faerman A, Lissemore JI, Geoly AD, et al. Is ibogaine treatment durable? 12-month follow-up of magnesium–ibogaine therapy (MISTIC) in special operations veterans with traumatic brain injuries. Translational Psychiatry. 2026. doi.org/10.1038/s41398-026-04327-5
Cherian KN, Keynan JN, Anker L, et al. Magnesium–ibogaine therapy in veterans with traumatic brain injuries. Nature Medicine. 2024;30:373–381. doi.org/10.1038/s41591-023-02705-w
Bai N. One year after taking ibogaine, veterans find continued relief from PTSD. Stanford Medicine News Center. 6 October 2026. med.stanford.edu
Davis AK, Xin Y, Sepeda N, Averill LA. 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. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. 2023. doi.org/10.1080/00952990.2023.2220874
Davis AK, Averill LA, Sepeda ND, Barsuglia JP, Amoroso T. Psychedelic treatment for trauma-related psychological and cognitive impairment among US Special Operations Forces veterans. Chronic Stress. 2020;4:2470547020939564. PMC7359647