704 subjects with chronic psychosis were interviewed to determine the prevalence of & risk factors for parasuicide. A comparison was made between attempters & nonattempters. The 2-year prevalence of parasuicide was 18.8%. Attempters were significantly more likely to be young, of white ethnic origin, to have a diagnosis of affective disorder, to be currently depressed, to have experienced more auditory hallucinations & to have received treatment with antipsychotic drugs for a longer period.