Psychological distress and life events in neurotic patients

In the present 6-month longitudinal study, the authors examine the relationship between stressful events and the intensity of psychological disorders. 40 neurotic outpatients were studied. The psychological distress was evaluated at the beginning and end of the study using Kellner and Sheffield's Symptom Rating Test (SRT), while stressful events were appraised using the Interview for Recent Life Events (ILE) of Paykel and Mangen. The results obtained demonstrate that patients, who experienced events which had a severe negative objective impact, showed high scores on the anxiety and somatization subscales, while patients, who reported events without an objective negative impact or with a slight impact, showed no change in the magnitude of their psychological distress. These results suggest that negative life events can increase the intensity of certain psychological symptoms and consequently prolong the psychiatric disturbance of the patient.