CNS Clinical Trials

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now requires that all clinical trials for drugs that affect the central nervous systemincluding psychiatric drugsare assessed for whether that drug might cause suicidal ideation or behavior. The Institute of Medicine's (IOM) Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders hosted a meeting on June 26, 2009, to discuss the FDA's new policy and how to analyze best whether suicidal thoughts predict actual suicidal behavior in the near future.