Live events and schizophrenic episodes

Abstract

Studies of live events and schizophrenia are few. Most have such methodological limitations that make any causal interpretation of their findings impossible. Of the three studies with appropriate methodology and controls, Brown and Birley (1968) found very recent life events trigger onset, Leff et al. (1983) found events were capable of precipitating relapse, under certain restricted circumstances, while Jacobs and Myers (1976) found independent events appear to have no significant effect. The widely held view that life events can precipitate schizophrenic episodes may be supported by our own clinical impressions; it is as yet not well supported by empirical data. Future research should perhaps focus on other definitions of these psychoses, such as is now embraced by DSM-III. Perhaps then a relation between stressful events and some of the non-depressive functional psychoses might be demonstrated.