The authors assessed the demographic & psychosocial profiles of patients with rheumatoid arthritis who died by suicide in Oulu, Finland between 1988 & 2000. They found that females were significantly over-represented. Comorbid depressive disorders preceded suicides in 90% of these patients. 50% of female victims had made at least 1 previous attempt. Males were less often depressive but completed suicide after experiencing shorter periods of illness. Implications are discussed. (36 refs)