Group relaxation training has been used in the past for specific psychosomatic concerns. Treatment of essential hypertension ising this modality has received considerable attention in recent years and appears to be promising (1). Borkovec and his associates have executed a series of carefully designed studies demonstrating the superiority of group progressive relaxation over other psychological interventions in the treatment of insomnia (2-4). Tension headaches have also been treated successfully with group relaxation techniques (5). Over-all, such studies indicate that application of progressive relaxation procedures in a group setting can be effective in treating discrete psychosomatic disorders. Psychiatric treatment of individuals with somatoform disorders presents special problems. The physician who comes in contact with such patients is likely to feel frustrated and angry about continued physical complaints that have no apparent organic basis (6). Mental health professionals also face a challenge in treating this population, since such patients typically insist on focusing on their perceived physical problems and reject the suggestion that psychological factors play an important role in their disorders. We encountered many such patients at the mental hygiene clinic of the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia. Patients referred to our clinic for psychosomatic problems were often integrated into general psychotherapy groups. However, most were only interested in discussing their physical com-