The role of life event stress in the pathogenesis of duodenal ulcer

The role of life events in the development of duodenal ulcer was examined. Patients with duodenal ulcer and with functional dyspepsia completed a modified version of the Social Readjustment Rating Scale, ticking the events experienced within the last 6 months. This was done just before the gastroscopy on which diagnoses were based. Neither in total life change score nor in perceived stress were significant differences between groups observed. In one category of events ulcer patients had even lower values than the controls. Our results do not support the widely held notion that stressful life events trigger onset or relapse of duodenal ulcer. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.