[Physical manifestations of anxiety during group psychotherapy]

Anxiety is always accompanied by certain somatic sensations related to certain organs. The author, using the results obtained in the course of the median group sessions, exceptionally anxiogenic in their very nature, measures the intensity of somatizations of anxiety by means of v. Zerssen questionnaire at the beginning and at the end of the sessions. He also observes the distribution of somatizations, according to organic systems (cardiovascular, respiratory, urogenital, gastrointestinal, locomotor and sensorium). What is interesting is the distribution of significantly pronounced somatizations, which indicates that the most frequently pronounced discomforts are related to sensorium. This was to be expected in view of the fact that the population of neurotic patients was being observed while other systems are approximately equally represented. The results shown indicate that the median group situation leads to an increase of anxiety, resulting in subsequent homeostasis disruptions, and to somatizations of anxiety. In such circumstances, it is locomotion that is most inhibited by group situation itself.