Life events in obsessive compulsive neurosis

Twenty four patients diagnosed to be suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Neurosis for the first time and individually matched controls were rated on a Life Events Scale. Leyton Obsessional Inventory was also administered to the patients and controls. It was seen that patients had significantly higher scores on life events for a time span of one year prior to the onset of illness as compared to controls. The patient group also scored highly on obsessional trait scores. The study points to a strong association between excess of life events and the onset of obsessional illness.