Psychiatrists in the former DDR, reported that post-communist depression was rife. They describe the main psychological problem as "angst of character", with headaches, stomach pains and sleeping disorders as its principal physical symptoms. It seems that whereas existence under the old system was all predictable and futile, today life seems full of uncertainties. Former secret service agents and the old communist guard are the worst affected, popularly despised and tormented by the questions: "How could the leaders do this ? And why did we believe "?