In this study the authors explore whether elderly suicide victims who had a previous history of attempted suicide differ from those with no similar history. A group of elderly suicide victims with a history of deliberate self-harm (DSH) was compared to a matching group who also died by suicide but were not known to have had any history of DSH. These groups were compared according to epidemiological, social, & psychological characteristics, service input, & methods of suicide. Findings are discussed. (17 refs)