Loss items on the Schedule of Recent Events (SRE): duration of psychotherapy

High scores on the Schedule of Recent Events (SRE; Holmes & Rahe, 1967) have been correlated with a high number of subsequent visits for medical or psychological intervention. This study examined the relationship between psychotherapy visits and endorsement of loss items on the SRE. Items that correlated significantly with length or duration of psychotherapy were: divorce (p less than .005); death of a close family member (p less than .07); fired at work (p less than .001); and a son or daughter leaving home (p less than .07). Additional variables are predetermined by the therapist and the clinical setting, so that the observed correlation between high SRE scores and subsequent psychotherapy should be validated in other settings.