Characteristics of 357 individuals who showed evidence of parasuicidal behaviour were compared to those of 1092 people who attended a psychiatric emergency clinic for other reasons. Subjects displaying parasuicidal behaviour had a history of previous substance abuse, acute stress reaction & adjustment reaction. These subjects were often alcoholics or depressives. Females dominated this group, which tended to be relatively younger than the non-parasuicidal behaviour group. (41 refs.)