In this letter to the editor, Fishbain comments on a study by Buteau which reported on 39 cases of homicide followed by suicide in a 2-year Quebec sample (see SIEC #930676). Buteau wondered if homicide followed by suicide has a primarily homicidal or suicidal basis & suggested that studies should utilize a control comparison group to approach this question. Fishbain briefly reports studies which he has done which use this research methodology. (3 refs.)