Life events and relapse in schizophrenia. A one year prospective study.

Results from a one year prospective study of a relationship between major and minor life events (all other events), and relapse in twenty-two schizophrenic (DSM III-R) patients are reported. Seven (33%) patients relapsed during the one year of follow-up. Relapsed patients had experienced significantly more independent major and minor life events during the one year compared to non-relapsed patients. The independent events experienced by the relapsed patients occurred twice as often in the three month period prior to the relapse as compared to any other period among the relapsed, or the non-relapsed patients. These findings are discussed in the context of the prospective design of this study and the inclusion of minor as well as major events.