title: Inhibition of hypervigilance in the treatment of traumatic simple phobias: three case examples.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In traumatic simple phobia (TSP) fear of retraumatisation tends to be enduring and may show little reduction with time despite frequent and prolonged exposure. This paper describes how hypervigilant behaviour may account for this enduring response by interfering with exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three case histories illustrating the clinical features of TSP and its treatment using in vivo exposure coupled with direct inhibition of hypervigilance are presented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all three cases, reduction of anxiety occurred with spontaneous generalisation of improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The efficacy of in vivo therapeutic exposure for fear of retraumatisation may be enhanced by the use of strategies to inhibit hypervigilant behaviour.
authors.affiliation: Hornsby and Ku-ring-gai Hospital, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vaughan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Armstrong
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal; D003887:Desensitization, Psychologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D013800:Theft / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome