Patients who have had suicidal thoughts are often excluded from antidepressant trials. The FDA says they don’t need to be

The Food and Drug Administration is overhauling its guidance for developing treatments for major depressive disorder for the first time since 1977 — and this time around, it’s making clear that patients with a history of suicidal thoughts or behaviors can be included in clinical trials.

Drug companies often rule out potential research participants with a recent history of suicidal thoughts or behavior, citing safety concerns or other issues. In a new draft guidance, the FDA says that patients with a history of suicidal thoughts or behavior “need not be systematically excluded” from clinical trials.

“Although this [exclusion] has been and is acceptable, we would encourage