One third of all hemophiliacs in Sweden were infected with human immunodeficiency virus via their medicines during 1979 to 1985. This was a major disaster to this small group of patients. On the basis of documents collected from official and unofficial sources, a description of the events following the disaster was made. Unexpected social tensions arose in the patient association. During spring 1986, almost one year after the testing of every patient in the country, a nationwide psychosocial exploration took place. The main objective was to study needs for psychosocial services. The atmosphere was very charged at the time of the survey. The patients were more or less isolated and many people, both old and young, described their feelings of anxiety as terrifying and as a hardship they were unable to bear. Later the group gradually was to adopt a more open attitude that also changed their attitude to both the need of treatment and support. In time this led to a need to turn to each other for advice and support.