Results from a 3-yr study of 1,449 psychiatric inpatients show that they are often characterized by relatively impaired socioeconomic functioning, suicidal behavior, & substance abuse. High rates of alcoholism were noted , but the reported abuse of illegal drugs was low. One in five admissions was because of suicidal attempts, in another third of the cases active suicidal ideation was present, & a similar proportion admitted to often thinking about suicide. (37 refs.)