In the patient described, hypochondriacal symptoms were found to consist mainly of gastrointestinal disturbances as well as generalized aches and pains. There were erratic and difficult eating habits and no sexual life. When eventually confronted with his solitude and with having to face reality, he developed claustrophobia. Fantasies centered primarily on having sexual relations with cadavers. The necrophilic fantasy also related to going to church and seeing religious images from behind and penetrating them anally. Wooden statues were equated with cadavers by virtue of their immobility. Taking care of people, giving them money, etc. was equated with communicating life to them. During the time his fantasies were active, the patient was unable to eat meat because 'it was bleeding and from a cadaver'. Also, for a year after the death of a friend, he was unable to eat meat. Eventually this reaction-formation against eating meat was generalized to solid food and the reaction-formation against blood took the form of inability to drink red wine and finally all kinds of liquids.