This paper presents the results of a descriptive investigation aimed at gaining insight into the way psychiatric patients react to musical intervals. Twenty psychiatric patients and a control group were asked to indicate the subjective reactions evoked by four musical intervals and a little melody, with the aid of a 20-item questionnaire constructed in a pilot study. Average item score is graphically represented for both groups. Iterative cluster analysis of the reactions to the melodies showed that the results fell by and large into two clusters. In cluster 1 (which contained the attributen 'unpleasant', 'depressing' and 'alarming', among others) the psychiatric patients scored higher than the controls. In cluster 2 (e.g. 'quiet', 'peaceful' and 'soothing'), there was no significant difference between the two groups. Finally the results are discuseed, e.g. in relation to the composition of the groups.