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The role of interpersonal problems
in the development of agoraphobia. Journal of Anxiety
Disorders, Volume 1, Issue 4, 1987, Pages 313-323.
Liliana Kleiner, Montreal General Hospital, Canada
W.L. Marshall, Queens University, Canada
Summary:
The relationship between interpersonal problems and the
development of panic attacks and agoraphobia was
investigated.
Fifty agoraphobics were interviewed by the first author and
a blind assessor, using a detailed structured interview.
Personal characteristics, stress factors, and type of
conflicts related to the onset of the phobia were assessed
and rated.
Results indicated that pre-agoraphobics tended to be
dependent, socially anxious, and unassertive individuals.
Prior to the development of the phobia, most subjects
experienced severe interpersonal conflict and a moderate
degree of general stress arising from sources other than
interpersonal difficulties.
In the year preceding the first panic attacks, the majority
(84%) experienced severe and prolonged marital or
relationship conflicts. Other common stress factors were
family conflicts (64%), divorce (26%), marriage (22%),
social isolation (22%), death of a loved one (22%), and
relocation of residence (18%).
All the subjects reported precipitants which involved more
than one stressor with at least one being of an
interpersonal nature.
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