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A distinction is made between isolation as a mechanism and isolation as an end product of numerous mechanisms such as repression, projection, displacement, and condensation. The mechanism of isolation as it appears in schizophrenia, obsessional neurosis, and in equivalent character disorders is discussed metapsychologically. In schizophrenia in the form of blocking, it would appear to be the consequence of an inability in special situations to withstand the raising of cathectic level to a stage necessary for correct thinking—a side effect of the illness, therefore, rather than a defence mechanism. In the obsessional neurosis the basic situation from which the term isolation is derived is the pause following a statement which has significance for the neurosis. The patient reports a complete emptiness, not experienced as a gap in consciousness or self-feeling. This could be produced by an automatic, sudden withdrawal of cathexis from the contents of the system Cs, not such as to eliminate consciousness totally, but so far reducing cathexis as to eliminate responses to stimuli arising inside the psychic apparatus. The picture is of defence which must constantly be recreated against new intrusions