Examined the relationship between life events and psychiatric symptoms among 587 wives of soldiers deployed to the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm (ODS). Psychiatric symptoms were measured, using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist at 2 times; once while the soldiers were away and a 2nd time several months after they returned. In a multiple regression analysis, symptoms at Time 2 were predicted by post-Desert Storm events as well as by events and emotional stressors that occurred during ODS. The trend toward improvement in symptoms over time was evident, even in the symptomatic and asymptomatic groups. This suggests that among those who may be chronically distressed, the deployment had a further impact on symptoms, a pattern that was evident among the healthiest group of respondents. It is possible to suggest, therefore, that symptoms precipitated predominantly by an uncontrollable crisis do not predict later life events.