Life events obtained via interview: the effect of time of recall on data obtained in controls and patients with panic disorder.

Because previous studies have documented the distorting effect of time of recall on the reporting of life events over a one-year period of time, the relation between various life event measures and time of recall over time periods greater than one year was examined in 44 patients with panic disorder and 44 control subjects. For both groups, time of recall was unrelated to any of nine life event measures. The implications of these findings for life event studies requiring retrospection greater than one year are discussed.