The study, summarized here, tests the reliability of police records & provides socio-demographic & clinical information on hospital patients who attempted suicide by poisoning. Results indicate that police records are suject to high error rates; method is related to easy availability; low recidivism rate may be related to low incidence of psychiatric illness & alcoholism, & to absence of social isolation, & the high rate among males may be reflective of social & economic pressures. (GW)