The suicidality characteristics included recent, lifetime, active, and passive. Psychopathology included depression, aggression, impulsivity, stressful life events, and SCL-90 dimensions. The participants were admitted consecutively to the program from 1988 to 1992. They included 84 youths who had attempted suicide and required medical treatment, 57 youths who had attempted suicide and did not require medical treatment, 40 youths who had thought about suicide but never made an attempt, and 44 nonsuicidal youths. Results revealed that the nonsuicidal group could be differentiated from the three suicidal groups on the basis of suicidality and psychopathology. In addition, the three suicidal groups could be differentiated from one another on the basis of suicidality but not psychopathology. Findings suggested that psychopathological factors do not determine which suicidal adolescents make a medically dangerous suicide attempt and which do not. Tables, figure, and 24 references (Author abstract modified)