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Life Events and Illness: A Three Year Prospective Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Arthur P. Schless
Affiliation:
From the Affective Diseases Research Unit, Veterans Administration Hospital, and the Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Alicia Teichman
Affiliation:
From the Affective Diseases Research Unit, Veterans Administration Hospital, and the Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
J. Mendels*
Affiliation:
From the Affective Diseases Research Unit, Veterans Administration Hospital, and the Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Norman W. Weinstein
Affiliation:
From the Affective Diseases Research Unit, Veterans Administration Hospital, and the Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Kenneth Weller
Affiliation:
From the Affective Diseases Research Unit, Veterans Administration Hospital, and the Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to J. Mendels, M.D., Professor, Department of Psychiatry, V.A. Hospital (151E), University and Woodland Avenues, Philadelphia PA 19104.

Summary

In an investigation of the relation between life events (stressors) and illness, 87 medical students reported on a prospective basis their health and life events history over a three year period. There were a few positive findings, e.g. that subjects who reported more life events during the period also reported more illnesses during that period. Overall, however, the study showed a lack of statistically significant association between life events and illness.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1977 

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Footnotes

Dr Weinstein is currently with the San Mateo County Department of Public Health and Welfare, Daly City, California. Dr Weller is currently with the Institute of the Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia.

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