Twenty-eight patients suffering from various chronic functional symptoms were investigated at least two years after they had received treatment with brief psychotherapy. Two-thirds showed moderate or good therapeutic results; one-third were failures. The author attempts to answer the question of what therapeutic factors influenced the result. The selection criteria for brief psychotherapy in this specific sample are outlined. Special attention is paid to the doctor-patient relationship and to the way the patient is referred to the psychiatrist by his or her general practitioner: not only problems that will influence an ensuing psychotherapy but also indications for a good outcome can be detected in this relationship.