Compared inpatient alcoholics with (n=41) and without (n=41) a history of attempted suicide. Suicidal subjects showed a tendency to be male, to have higher incidence of parental loss, and to have been reared by relatives after the loss of 1 parent. They came from smaller families, displayed more neuroticism, and began addictive drinking earlier. No differences appeared in comparisons of relation to parental loss, birth order, parental ages, or social isolation.