A Study of Impact of Stressful Life-events in Neurotic Patients1

Stressful life events preceding neurotic disorders, their impact on neurotic patients in comparison to normal subjects and relationship of impact of stressful life-events to depression and anxiety scores were studied prospectively in 100 consecutive neurotic patients, diagnosed according to ICD-9 and 100 matched normal subjects in psychiatric O.P.D. of S.M.S. Hospital, Jaipur, by administering presumptive stressful life event scale, Beck's depression inventory and Max Hamilton anxiety rating scale. It was found that number of stressful life events was higher in neurotic patients and their impact was also perceived significantly higher in them. Significantly higher depression and anxiety scores had positive corelation to number and impact of stressful life events in-neurotic patients. Cause and effect relationship of impact of stressful life events to neuroses has been discussed.