The relationship between suicidal behaviors & histories of abuse was evaluated in 251 psychiatric outpatients. Physical abuse in adulthood & histories of a combination of childhood & adulthood abuse were significant predictors of past suicide attempts & current suicidal ideation. Victims of abuse were more likely to have been suicidal at a younger age & to have made multiple attempts. Among patients with a history of abuse, attempters had higher levels of dissociation, depression & somatization.