In a sample of consecutive ulcer (DU) patients and age, sex and social class matched normal controls, the prevalence of antecedent stressful life events in the two samples was similar. Antecedent chronic difficulties often lasting years were however significantly more common in the ulcer patients. Duodenal ulcer was more common in divorced, separated or widowed subjects; this finding was explained by the fact that these subjects had more chronic difficulties which predisposed to ulcer disease.