Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS)
The Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS), developed by Dave Jobes, PhD, is an evidence-based clinical intervention that has significantly evolved over 25 years of clinical research. CAMS is best understood as a therapeutic framework that emphasizes a unique collaborative assessment and treatment planning process between the suicidal patient and clinician. This process is designed to enhance the therapeutic alliance and increase treatment motivation in the suicidal patient. Central to the CAMS approach is the use of the Suicide Status Form (SSF), which is a multipurpose clinical assessment, treatment planning, tracking, and outcome tool. CAMS and the SSF can be used in a single session context or as a therapeutic framework for ongoing care. When used in ongoing care, CAMS assists the clinician in organizing the sessions to target and treat suicidal “drivers” and resolve suicidality. CAMS presumes the clinician brings their own psychotherapeutic expertise and when suicidality resolves the clinician continues with treatment or concludes treatment according to their own treatment model.
To date, CAMS (and the clinical use of the SSF) has been supported by six published correlational studies and one randomized clinical trial (RCT) to resolve suicidal ideation and psychological distress more quickly and for much longer than standard care. Currently, two well-powered RCTs are under way, and various CAMS-related projects are also being pursued.
To date, CAMS (and the clinical use of the SSF) has been supported by six published correlational studies and one randomized clinical trial (RCT) to resolve suicidal ideation and psychological distress more quickly and for much longer than standard care. Currently, two well-powered RCTs are under way, and various CAMS-related projects are also being pursued.
