Serum lipid profiles were pair-matched for 60 Korean patients who had recently attempted suicide & equal numbers of non-suicidal psychiatric patients & normal controls. Suicide attempt severity was scored using Weisman & Worden’s risk-rescue rating scale. Total serum cholesterol & low density lipoprotein levels were found to be lower in the parasuicidal population at statistically significant levels. Triglyceride concentrations were lower in suicide attempters with major depression compared with non-suicidal depressed patients. Risk-rescue rating scores were negatively correlated with total serum cholesterol levels. (61 refs.)