Ephedra alkaloids and brief relapse in EMDR-treated obsessive compulsive disorder

Letter to the editor commenting on an article by E. Ernst (see record 2003-05653-002). We report the case of a patient who was effectively treated for severe obsessive compulsive disorder but relapsed briefly following ingestion of herbal products containing ephedra alkaloids that she bought to facilitate weight loss. The patient was a 29-year-old woman with a 10-year history of obsessive compulsive disorder who was referred for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) when her condition had not responded to cognitive behavior therapy nor to various medications including Fluoxetine, Paroxetine, Clomipramine and Amitriptyline. Her score on the Dissociative Experiences Scale was low and there was nothing in the clinical history to suggest major dissociative disorder, so after preparation with mindfulness, relaxation and safe place imagery she proceeded to treatment with EMDR. Nine months later she reported a relapse into increased anxiety with a partial return to compulsive thoughts and behaviours after she had obtained a herbal health product sold to promote weight loss.

Journal

English

Frank M. Corrigan
J.  Jennett

Corrigan, F. M., & Jennett, J. (2004, August). Ephedra alkaloids and brief relapse in EMDR-treated obsessive compulsive disorder. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 110(2), 158. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0047.2004.00368.x