The majority of persons attempting suicide are young (17-19 years), female (68%), otherwise healthy, & use chemicals; 98% of these persons survive. Thus, survivors of suicide attempts present a unique model for the study of the somatic & germinal mutagenic effects of large doses of chemicals in human beings. This recognition prompted the establishment of the Budapest Registry of Self-Poisoned Patients in 1990. This article is a report on this centre & the database it has generated. (8 refs.)