Arachnophobia: New therapy promises to end fear of spiders

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Arachnophobia, an irrational and uncontrollable fear of spiders, can be cured. According to a report published by Sientific American, a new therapy, developed by researchers at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, promises to end the phobia in just two hours.

In principle, the proposal does not seem very attractive: therapists suggest that individuals come into direct contact with arachnids, approaching and touching the animals. However, the researchers believe this causes the brain to develop a resistance to fear, changing activity in the regions responsible for this sensation minutes after the end of the session.

Facing the fear

According to Katherina Hauner, one of the researchers, the study participants - individuals who refused to walk the grass or leave their rooms for fear of spiders - even managed to touch and hold the animals after just a few hours., and this result continued to be observed six months after the study.

Researchers believe that other types of specific phobias - such as fear of blood, needles, people, etc. They can also be treated with the same method and expect individuals suffering from irrational fears to realize that there are treatments available that can help them.

Sientific American and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine