77 Puerto Ricans who attempted suicide & were admitted to the psychiatric unit were administered the Schedule for Affective Disorders & Schizophrenia (SADS), selected items of the Life Crisis Inventory, & the Beck Depression Inventory. Scores on the SADS medical lethality & suicidal intent scales were in the minimal range, & Beck scores were in the mild range. Analysis showed that alcohol & other substance abuse was a significant predictor of attempted suicide; place of birth was not. 14 Refs.