The temporal relation between completed suicide & first-ever suicide attempt was investigated in 58 future suicides with a primary severe depression/melancholia. The median survival after a first attempted suicide was 6.7 years. Male patients with initial ratings of psychomotor retardation lived significantly longer after their initial attempt than those without. They also had more depressive episodes compared to other male suicides & controls. Thus a slow suicidal process in the men with a severe depression & psychomotor retardation is proposed. (35 refs)