Sixty-nine female patients were assessed for anxiety before receiving premedication. Thirty-three were given lorazepam and 36 were given papaveretum. Re-evaluation 90 min after premedication indicated that lorazepam reduced significantly the level of anxiety, but that papaveretum did not. Anxiety was assessed by means of a five-point nurse-rating scale and the Multiple-Affect Adjective Check List self-rating form. This self-rating anxiety scale was sensitive and proved suitable for recumbent patients in hospital. The test scores compared favourably with previously published values.