This article describes the cases of 5 patients with asthma who died despite treatment. The authors found certain characteristics which separated the 5 from those who respond favorably to treatment, & which indicate the 5 deaths were suicides. All 5 had serious defects of personality organization, including strong dependent longings & an inability to relate satisfactorily to others. One patient put all of her affairs in order before her death, while another, knowing it was fatal, took aspirin.