Certain similar characteristics were found to coincide with the syndromes of asthma and hay fever in the cases of one woman and two men who were analysed. These characteristics were: (1) disturbances of sexuality involving refusal of the female rôle in the woman, and feminine identifications in the men; (2) marked predominance of anal and oral sadistic material with sexualization of the respiratory function and increased olfactory interests; (3) protective rituals and phobias occurring during the periods of freedom from somatic symptoms and almost disappearing when the latter symptoms reappeared; (4) intense hostility with a tendency to overt expression of aggressiveness; (5) weak ego organization with poorly assimilated super-ego. A review of the literature of the past four years and a comprehensive bibliography are given.