Ideas about the nature of perceptual, intellectual and emotional difficulties in schizophrenia are reviewed. The author is of the opinion that schizophrenia is an organic process of great lability continually modified by psychogenic sequences. The nature of the conflicts which possibly produce it is not proved, but it seems that an early threat of annihilation is important. The organic confusional states appearing during and after insulin shock and metrazol belong to another order from the states found in schizophrenia. The 'death threat' referred to by Jelliffe has its origin in organic occurrences, and the previous psychotic experiences seem of no importance to the patient. He gains objective but no psychodynamic insight from the experience and psychological help does not seem essential for the immediate curative effect. These organic methods of treatment seem at present more effective than psychological methods.