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British researchers have improved a known treatment against phobia, which involves exposing the individual to the object of his fear. By synchronizing exposure to the heartbeat, the beneficial results of this technique are felt much faster.
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Phobia is a relatively common disorder. It's about an irrational and intense fear very disproportionate compared to the real threat. To combat it, the most widely used technique is currently expose the person to triggers, as when showing spider images to arachnophobes. But for the first time, researchers propose a new method synchronized with the heartbeat to improve the results of this exhibition.
In previous research, researchers at the University of Susbad, UK, have noted that the degree of fear of a threat depends on the cardiac cycle at the time of exposure. In this new study, published by the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, they found that the emotional impact was greater when the exposure to the threat coincided with the heartbeat rather than between two beats.
The level of anxiety
The researchers clbadified patients with arachnophobia (fear of spiders) into three groups. The first group was exposed to images of spiders at the rhythm of their heartbeat. The second group viewed the same images between the heartbeats. In the third group, the images appeared randomly with respect to the cardiac cycle. The team evaluated improvement by measuring anxiety levels, as well as other criteria of fear. The greatest improvement occurred in the group whose exposure to the spider coincided with the heartbeat.
Traditional exposure therapy takes time. This new therapy has made it possible to reduce anxiety levels of patients much faster. Although this study shows great potential, additional research is needed. But the phobic fears of spiders, dogs, insects, water, lifts, planes, needles, interventions or clowns have counted hours …
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