Suicidal ideation and communication were investigated for 89 suicide victims with a primary severe depression and matched controls. The selection of patients was based on multiaxial ratings of all hospitalised patients between 1956 and 1969. A blind record evaluation was performed, including scores on Beck's Scale for Suicidal Ideation and additional items apart from that scale. There was no relation between high scores on the Beck's scale and completed suicide. In the male group, suicidal ideation "beyond one's own will" was related to suicide. Female suicides that had made an attempt showed higher suicidal ideation than female suicides who had not. A substantial minority of the women (22%) committed suicide without showing any previous intent. Only 5% of the male suicides had shown no previous intent to commit suicide.