
A pill could aid people overcome an irrational fear of heights, says study.
The capsule - which contains the stress hormone cortisol - works with traditional therapy to help people forget what makes them frightened, reports the Daily Mail.
Advertisement
In tests, three sessions of treatment were enough to reduce panic caused by heights.
Fear of high places, or acrophobia, is one of the most common phobias. It can be treated by exposing people to heights, or by recreating the experience of being high up using virtual reality glasses.
However, the technique is rarely fully successful. The new method combines this "exposure therapy" with a dose of cortisol, the hormone released by the body in times of stress. The international team of scientists tested the effects of a cortisol pill on 40 people suffering from acrophobia.
Volunteers were either given cortisol or a placebo an hour before they egan exposure treatment.
At the end they were asked to gauge how scared they were using a questionnaire. Those taking cortisol were noticeably less fearful.
The effects were also lasting, with the volunteers still feeling less frightened a month after taking the pill.
The scientists believe that cortisol works by making people forget what they are scared of. It is thought to cut blood flow to regions of the brain that retrieve memories, leaving people unable to recall their phobia of heights.
The report has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.
Source: ANI
Advertisement
However, the technique is rarely fully successful. The new method combines this "exposure therapy" with a dose of cortisol, the hormone released by the body in times of stress. The international team of scientists tested the effects of a cortisol pill on 40 people suffering from acrophobia.
Volunteers were either given cortisol or a placebo an hour before they egan exposure treatment.
At the end they were asked to gauge how scared they were using a questionnaire. Those taking cortisol were noticeably less fearful.
The effects were also lasting, with the volunteers still feeling less frightened a month after taking the pill.
The scientists believe that cortisol works by making people forget what they are scared of. It is thought to cut blood flow to regions of the brain that retrieve memories, leaving people unable to recall their phobia of heights.
The report has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.
Source: ANI
Advertisement
Advertisement
|
Advertisement
Recommended Readings
Latest Drug News

The psychedelic market set for remarkable growth, projected to hit $7.2B by 2029 with a strong 55% CAGR.

The study explores whether CDNF could influence the progression of ALS in rodent models and to elucidate the mechanism through which it operates.

Amoxicillin-clavulanate use in acute sinusitis patients is associated with a higher incidence of adverse events.

Professionals advocate for enhanced education of patients and caregivers, and creation of more effective child-resistant systems for monitoring ADHD medication.

In June, WHO raised concerns about 7 Indian cough syrups after complaints from several countries about contamination and health issues.