This study was designed to investigate suicidal ideation & attempts, thoughts about living & dying, & the maintenance, diminution & loss of hope in a sample of long-term AIDS survivors. Despite the experience of protracted biological stress associated with life-threatening illness & the psychological stress of living with AIDS, the authors found low rates of current syndromal mood disorders or psychiatric stress. Only two patients had made a suicide attempt after diagnosis & both had a prior history of attempts. (32 refs)