10 typologies of suicide were applied to a sample of 404 completed suicide cases & classified by judges as descriptive or not descriptive of each case. Classifications showed a high degree of interrater reliability. The typologies were able to classify from 61-86% of the cases. 5 subtypes described 86% of all cases: escapist, confused, aggressive, alienated, & depressive/low self-esteem. Implications for the development of risk assessment & type-specific treatments are discussed. (21 refs.)