Three Decades of Research on the Development of Ibogaine Treatment of Substance Use Disorders: A Scientometric Analysis.
Maria Helha Fernandes-Nascimento, André Brooking Negrão, Karine Viana-Ferreira, Bruno Daniel Rasmussen Chaves, Yuan-Pang Wang
Journal of psychoactive drugs January 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2023.2276230 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractIbogaine, a natural psychoactive drug, has been studied for treating substance use disorders since the mid-1960s. A scientometric analysis of publications from 1993 to 2022 found 1523 references, with linear growth in the first and third decades and lower average publications in 1993-2002 than in later decades. Researchers from five continents contributed, with US and Canadian academic centers most productive. Early keywords included cocaine, tobacco, morphine, and alcohol; opioids and psychedelics emerged in the third decade. Only one preclinical meta-analysis and no human meta-analyses were found. Research trends are widespread and growing, underscoring the need for rigorous clinical trials on ibogaine's efficacy and safety.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Scientometric analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1,523 |
| Population | Published references on ibogaine |
| Topics | Addiction Ibogaine Psychedelic-assisted therapy |
| Keywords | Citespace, psychedelics Scientometrics Substance use disorders Vosviewer Ibogaine research |
| Citations | 7 |
| Key finding | Research on ibogaine for substance use disorders is growing and widespread, but rigorous clinical research is still needed. |
Abstract
Ibogaine is a natural psychoactive drug that has been investigated for its potential role in the treatment of substance use disorders since the mid-1960s. To evaluate the interest in ibogaine's use as a therapeutic agent, we performed a scientometric analysis covering the last three decades (1993-2002, 2003-2012, and 2013-2022). A complementary analysis was performed to select and describe published clinical trials and meta-analyses. A total of 1523 references were found. Linear growth of publications in the first and third decades were identified, and the average number of publications from 1993 to 2002 was lower than that in the other two decades. Researchers from five continents were identified. Globally, academic research centers in the United States and Canada were the most productive. Cocaine, tobacco, morphine, and alcohol prevailed as major keywords in the first two decades and opioids and psychedelics were included in the third decade. A few key authors were the most co-referenced. One preclinical meta-analysis and no meta-analysis in humans were found. Research trends for ibogaine are widespread, growing, and consonant with current attentiveness in drug abuse. Our findings support the pressing need for rigorous clinical research on ibogaine to evaluate its efficacy and safety.