The present study is the first part of an exploratory study on suïcide at the psychiatric hospital 'Vogelenzang'. This study comprises an analysis of 38 cases of suïcide that occured amongst patients admitted to this hospital during the years 1970 to 1979. (Patients older than 65 years were excluded). This study shows an increase in the number of suïcides during the last years. The average age of suïcites was not decreasing. Some of the other findings of this study are:

• There was no difference in number of suïcites between sexes. Violent methodes were more common in men, non violent in women.
• In the suïcidegroup married people were overrepresented, unmarried were underrepresented in comparison to the rest of the hospital population.
• Roman catholics were overrepresented, protestants and non-religious people were underrepresented.
• In case of repeated suïcide attempts, the methods with which suïcide was attempted were often different and were in many cases inclined to be more and more violent in successive attempts.
• Most suïcides were seen during summer and autumn. By far the most suïcides were committed in or around weekends. There were very few suïcides during the night.
• There may exist a connection between suïcide and transfer to other wards within the hospital or discharge as well as between suïcides and proposals for such transfers or discharge. Further research into the character of this connection seems important.
• We found no clear connections between suïcide and psychopharmacological treatment. In general however the antidepressants were given in remarkably low dosages.