98 consecutive patients (40 men, 58 women; mean age 49 [17-83] years) who had been referred for outpatient gastroscopy or colonoscopy were questioned beforehand regarding their anxiety about the procedure, its causes and how it could be dispelled. Two thirds of them (67%) stated that they felt anxiety about the investigation; almost half of them (46%) felt very great or "terrible" anxiety. 55% of the patients had been fully informed about the nature of the procedure. 69% of the women and 48% of the men had previously experienced gastroscopy or colonoscopy. The reasons for their anxiety were varied. One quarter of those questioned (24%) had had unpleasant experiences during previous endoscopies; others had been alarmed by rumours about endoscopy (22%), and some were less worried about the procedure itself than about what it might reveal (24%). Almost two thirds (63%) wanted a tranquilizing injection. Other methods for dispelling anxiety, such as detailed information about the procedure (21%), a calm, relaxed atmosphere (19%) or the presence of a relative at the endoscopy (7%) were claimed for in a limited way. However, 37% very much wanted to watch the endoscopy on the television monitor. The findings show that the number of patients who experience anxiety before undergoing endoscopy is alarmingly great, and that more energetic measures are necessary to relieve their fears and worries.