The function of agoraphobia in the marital relationship.

A secondary analysis was carried out of data from a previous experiment on the treatment of agoraphobia. This analysis shows that, contrary to some reports in the literature, agoraphobics do have more problems in the relationship with their partner than the average members of the normal population. The analysis also shows that individual-oriented behavioural treatment of the agoraphobia significantly improves the marital relationship. The findings contradict the theory that agoraphobia serves a function in the relationship with the partner.