Niall Horan is using self-help books to combat his claustrophobia.

The One Direction hunk suffered a panic attack in December after getting trapped in a lift with a group of young fans in a hotel in Milan, and he is now keen to find ways to deal with his nerves.

A source told the Daily Star newspaper: ''Niall really wants to conquer this problem once and for all. He's essentially practising amateur psychology at the moment and is getting through three books a week.

''The self-help books are teaching him how to manage crowds with various coping techniques.

''He has stacks of them by his bed and they're really making a difference to his state of mind.''

The 20-year-old singer was left feeling shaken up after the incident in December and claimed his heart was ''still thumping'' even after he was released from the tight spot.

He wrote on Twitter at the time:''Eight of us got stuck in a tiny lift. Claustrophobia is a terrible thing, and people telling you to calm down is worse. I was freaking out. My heart is still thumping.''

The 'Little Things' hitmaker admits his adoring fans make his fear of confined spaces even worse.

He said previously: ''I do get a bit scared sometimes - when we're in the tour bus, fans start climbing all over it and smacking on the windows, trying to get in.

''They start chasing after us, screaming. I'm claustrophobic and I don't like everyone crowding around and shouting questions. I get a bit scared.''