Reports 3 cases where the effects of preadmission contracts in preventing deliberate self-harm in patients admitted to a psychiatric emergency unit were examined. The cases were those of a 26 yr old male with homicidal thoughts and suicide threats, a 24 yr old female with self-mutilation urges, and a 32 yr old male with suicidal intentions. In these cases, the initiation and maintenance of preadmission contracts did decrease the frequency of deliberate self-harm.