Descripción: Applying the doublet representation we analyze the solutions of a Hamiltonian system which has eigenstates with complex eigenvalues. The example of the Friedrichs model allows us to show how the appearance of solutions with non-Hilbert initial conditions is linked to the energy degeneration of the Hamiltonian spectrum. We discuss the difficulties of giving a physical meaning to the growing or decaying non-Hilbert solutions. We also suggest a way to circumvent the problem of the anomalous probabilities related to both complex energy eigenvalues and degeneration of the spectrum. © 1998 American Institute of Physics.