OBJECTIVE: To study the possible relationship between life-events stress and functional dyspepsiDESIGN: Prospective and case-control study. Exclusion of obvious organic disease for the dyspepsiMETHODS: Life-events stress scale; derived from life-events scale by Tennant and Andrews. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and abdominal sonography. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the patients and controls in relation to the number and categories of life events. Significant differences, however, were noticed in relation to experiencing individual life events, but the interpretation of these differences is not clear-cut, as they were present in both patients and controls. CONCLUSION: The question of the relationship between the stress and functional dyspepsia remains unresolved and further quantitative studies are needed before reaching a final conclusion.