Stressful sequelae of disabling illness.

Fifty former rehabilitation patients completed the recent life changes questionnaire (RLCQ), an inventory of potentially stressful life events. Subjects indicated those that had occurred to them during the 6 months prior to onset of illness/injury and during the 6 months following hospital discharge. Certain RLCQ items have associated point values ("life change units" or LCU) indicative of the amount of stress induced by that event. The average number of LCU reported for the post-discharge period exceeded by 3 1/2 times the average for the pre-injury epoch. Ranges for both sets of values were substantial. Forty-five of the fifty-seven events were reported more frequently for the later period, while eight occurred slightly more often before the onset of illness or injury. These findings have implications for the genesis, frequency, magnitude and individual variability of depression following the onset of disabling illness.