The authors report an investigation of the physiol. changes associated with discomfort referred to the head and neck and to the cardiovascular system. In order to secure the pertinent information, a further analysis was made of the data secured in a previous study of the physiol. effects of stress in psychiatric patients (reported in previous abstract). Forty-seven of the 74 patients suffered from head complaints or neck tensions, and 34 from heart symptoms. Both types of discomfort were present in 27 cases. Results showed that the group with head complaints had reliably higher EMG potentials from the neck muscles than the group free of such discomforts. The group of patients suffering from cardiovascular symptoms showed significantly higher heart rate and greater heart-rate variability than the group without these symptoms. The group with heart complaints also showed a markedly higher score on respiratory deviation. It is concluded that "psychiatric patients with somatic complaints tend to manifest increased physiol. responsiveness in the related physiol. system or mechanism, upon exposure to stress" and that the disturbance is "specific to the physiologic system associated with the complaint.".