Abstract
Seventy-four patients with open gastric ulcer and 21 patients with the scarring stage of gastric ulcer diagnosed by gastroendoscopy, were interviewed and evaluated for an inventory of life events and life changes. This inventory was based on Social Readjustment Rating Questionnaire, Schedule of Recent Experience and Recent Life Changes Questionnaire, and was compised of 47 items of stressful life events and life changes. Patients were asked whether they had these experiences within 6 months of their diagnosis. The results were as follows : (1) The total number of life events and life changes which the open gastric ulcer patients had experienced was significantly greater than that of the patients with the scarring stage of gastric ulcer (p<0. 001). (2) The total number of life events and life changes in the open gastric ulcer patients under 40 years of age was significantly greater than that in patients of 40-59 years and in those over 60 years of age (p<0.01). (3) The total number of life events and life changes of patients with initial gastric ulcer was not significantly different from that of patients with recurrent gastric ulcer. (4) Many of male patients with open gastric ulcer had experienced "Being busy with works, ' "A change in eating habits, " "A change in sleeping habits" and other working or financial exents and changes. On the contrary, many of female patients with open gastric ulcer had experienced "A change in sleeping habits, " "Troubles with a child, " "A change in eating habits " and other familial events and changes. From these fidings, the author concluded : (1) Life events and life changes were very important risk factors to the onset or recurrence of gastric ulcer. and the more life events and life changes the patient experienced, the more risk of the onset or recurrence of gastric ulcer increased. (2) The life events and life changes inventory was very useful to understand the circumstances of the patient's life rather easily. and to prevent the recurrence of gastric ulcer.
