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BackgroundPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the only psychiatric condition that requires a specific event to have occurred for its diagnosis.AimsTo gather evidence from the adult general population on whether life events (e. g. divorce, unemployment) generate as many symptoms of post-traumatic stress as traumatic events (e. g. accidents, abuse).MethodData on demographic characteristics and history of stressful events were collected through a written questionnaire sent to a random sample of 2997 adults. Respondents also filled out a PTSD symptom checklist, keeping in mind their worst event. Mean PTSD scores were compared, controlling for differences between the two groups. Differences in item scores and in the distribution of the total PTSD scores were analysed.ResultsOf the 1498 respondents, 832 were eligible for inclusion in our analysis. For events from the past 30 years the PTSD scores were …