On the basis of past conceptual work on the unique characteristics of multiple suicide attempts, as well as work on the effect of previous suicidal and depressive experience on later functioning, the study developed predictions regarding the intensity and duration of suicidal crises in youths presenting to inpatient psychiatry units. Specifically, it hypothesized that multiple attempt status would relate significantly to intensity of suicidal crises and would relate more strongly to intensity than to duration of crises. Data on suicide history and self-rated symptoms were collected for 50 suicidal patients, all of whom were available at follow-up. Multiple attempters experienced more intense but not more long-lasting crises; the relation between multiple attempt status and crisis intensity exceeded that between multiple attempt status and crisis duration. The study concludes that previous suicidal experience may alter the parameters of current suicidal crises and discusses the implications of these findings for suicide risk and clinical assessment and management. Table, references