Finesinger analyzed with his special method the irregularities in spirogram patterns in a group of sixty-four psychoneurotic patients, and compared them to a group of twenty-four normal subjects. The spirogram was taken (1) without giving the subject any directions, (2) while inducing him to think of pleasant ideas, (3) while inducing him to think of unpleasant ideas, (4) while inducing him to think of pleasant ideas a second time, and (5) while asking him to relax.

Patients diagnosed as hysteria, anxiety neurosis or reactive depression showed all kinds of irregularities—especially in reaction to unpleasant ideational stimuli. Compulsive neurotics, hypochondriacs and problematic schizophrenic patients as well as the control group showed no major changes during the 'unpleasant' period. An increase in sighing respirations as a response to unpleasant ideas, however, occurred in all groups, though in the compulsive, hypochondriac group to a lesser degree than in hysterics, anxiety patients and normal people.