The marriage of the "collapsible" man of prominence

The authors describe a clinical entity encountered in the treatment of marital disorders, the marital relationship of the "collapsible" man of prominence. They describe the presenting complaints of 16 prominent men seeking psychiatric treatment. They then discuss the individual personality characteristics of these men and their wives and their marital dynamics. They conclude that the marital relationship of men of prominence is a key determinant of their psychological functioning, and that a breakdown in this relationship results in dire consequences not only for the husband himself but for the community and institutions in which he lives and functions.