The case history of a patient is described whose organic physical disease (carcinoma of the pancreas) was not recognizedin vivo, while his “neurotic” reaction was emphasized by various observers with the result that the patient at one time even received a series of electric shock treatments. When the patient actually was on the threshold of death, a psychotherapeutic approach led within a short time to a remarkable change in his attitude and to complete suppression of his main symptoms, thus dramatically demonstrating the utter lack of relation between his mortal illness and his personality reaction.