10 Ss with a history of intransigent hypochondriacal personality disorder were subjected to 2½ hr. of sensory deprivation preceded and followed by planned interviewing procedures. Each interview was designed to pre-structure the interpersonal meaning of the experience of sensory deprivation and selectively reinforce social roles antithetical to S's characteristic, maladaptive interpersonal behavior. As predicted, Ss showed a significant (p < .01) shift from passively hostile to an actively warm social role. The changes in social role were also reflected in a significant (p < .01) reduction in number of medical clinic visits. These effects were still operative 30 days following the procedure, whereas an equated baseline group of 10 Ss showed no significant change in behavior over the same period of time.
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