The somatic symptoms found in anxiety states are referable mainly to imbalance of the autonomic nervous system; correction of this imbalance might theoretically be expected to improve the patient's condition. It is almost impossible accurately to assess the autonomic status of any patient, but subjective and objective clinical data together with pharmaco-dynamic reactions, reflex reactions and sugar-tolerance curves collectively represent a sufficiently comprehensive picture to justify some conclusions being drawn as to the state of the patient's autonomic nervous system.