A nasal spray containing an antibiotic used to treat tuberculosis may help people to overcome their fears of public speaking, attending work parties or even performing karaoke.
Psychologists found that sprays emitting D-Cycloserine (DCS) significantly reduced the symptoms of people afflicted with chronic social phobias.
Patients suffering from irrational fears normally undergo "exposure therapy", which involves people confronting the things they are frightened of the most.
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In the latest study, an Australian researcher asked 23 sufferers to make a speech after taking small doses of DCS and having exposure therapy.
He then compared the results with patients who also made a speech but without having had any treatment for their phobias.
Dr Adam Guastella, from the University of New South Wales, said the difference between the two groups was astonishing.
"These people were so shy they could not enter a crowded room or speak in public," he said.
"However, those who received DCS showed a great reduction in fear and also reported lasting improvements in work and social relationships."
Research in America suggests that as many as 13 in 100 people suffer from a social phobia and are worried about being watched, judged or criticised in public.
People usually show the first symptoms of social phobias at the age of 15, but they can continue for a long time if left untreated.
Scientists say that DCS has no effect on fear on its own, but enhances the therapy sessions by changing the neurotransmitters in the brain associated with learning to overcome fear.
By Nicole Martin
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