Objective: To evaluate the presence of suicidal behavior and depressive symptoms and the factors contributing to them in female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Method: Forty female patients attending the Rheumatology and Rehabilitation department in Kasr Al Aini for treatment of SLE where patients fulfilled the Modified 1997 American College of Rheumatology criteria for the classification of SLE. They were assessed using psychiatric assessment, Rheumatology sheet including SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and psychometric tools; Suicide probability scale (SPS) (Arabic version), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHO-9) for assessment of depression, MiniMental State Examination(MMSE) for assessment of cognitive ability and Pain Visual Analogue Scale.Results: 52.5% of the patients of the sample were depressed, 25% of the sample fulfilled the criteria of major depressive disorder (MDD) according to DSM-IV while the other 27.5% patients were diagnosed as depressive disorder NOS, 90% of the sample had SLE disease activity, 70% of the sample had a suicide probability and 17.5% of the sample had severe suicide probability and 82.5% had a pain score of 5 or more on the pain visual analogue scale. Suicide probability is related to pain intensity, disfigurement and physical disability but not related to disease activity. SPS and the hostility subscale are predicted by the increased depression (P=0.000) the higher cognitive ability (P=0.028) and the presence of disability/ disfigurement. SLE disease activity is related to depression but not to suicide probability.Conclusion: Depression and suicide are significant problems in SLE. Pain is a predictor of depression. Younger age with higher cognitive abilities and presence of physical disability/ disfigurement predict suicide. Psychiatric assessment for SLE female patients should be considered as part of their clinical assessment.