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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 ,
Alicia Teichman ,
J. Mendels ,
Norman W. Weinstein  and
Kenneth Weller
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.
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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
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 131 , Issue 1 , July 1977 , pp. 26 - 34
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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