OBJECTIVE--To examine the psychological reactions in 40-49 year old men diagnosed as having an increased risk for the development of ischaemic heart disease at a health examination in general practice. DESIGN--A multipractice study including a questionnaire about the psychological well-being before and 6 months after a health examination aimed at finding an increased risk for ischaemic heart disease. SETTING--General practice in the county of Aarhus, Denmark. Sixty five general practitioners. PARTICIPANTS--123 men with and 150 men without an increased risk of ischaemic heart disease. OUTCOME MEASURES--Psychological well-being was measured by the General Health Questionnaire (12 item version). RESULTS--No significant change in GHQ-scores after the screening examination. CONCLUSION--Information about increased risk of IHD in 40-49 year old men at a health examination in general practice did not change the psychological well-being as measured by a General Health Questionnaire 6 months after the examination.