The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the MMPI as a screening device in determing those at riskfor suicidal gestures. Subjects were 40 military personnel who had made an unsuccessful attempt. Controls were drawns from 2 non-psychriatric groups (581) & a group of psychiatric hospital patients (538). Use of the MMPI & a suicidal gesture scale indicated significant personality differences between the subjects & non-psychiatric populations & between the subjects & controls.