The authors used psychological autopsies to examine 71 suicide victims with major depression. 85% of cases had comorbid diagnoses which varied with the subjects’s sex & age. 75% previously had psychiatric treatment; only 45% were in treatment at the time of death. Most had received no treatment for depression. There were significant sex differences in current & previous treatment leading to the conclusion that treatment must be improved, especially for males with major depression. (57 refs.)