THE INTERVIEW FOR RECENT LIFE EVENTS

Background. This paper summarizes work with the Interview for Recent L ife Events (IRLE), an instrument that has been used extensively but no t previously reported in detail. Methods. Rationale, development, orga nization, content, reliability, validity and applications are reviewed in full. Results. The instrument covers a comprehensive range of rece nt life events, their timing and other important qualities. It has bee n found reliable and valid, and has been translated into a number of l anguages. It has been used by many research groups in different countr ies, in studies of psychiatric patients, medical patients and subjects in the general population. Conclusions. The instrument is useful, has been widely applied and has the necessary qualities for ascertainment of life events in research studies.