Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS)

CAMS Framework® is a clinical philosophy of care. It is a therapeutic framework for suicide-specific assessment and treatment of a patient’s suicidal risk. It is a flexible approach that can be used across theoretical orientations and disciplines for a wide range of suicidal patients across treatment settings and different treatment modalities.

Last Reviewed: 2024

Intended Outcomes:
-Reductions in suicidal ideation, overall symptom distress, depression, and hopelessness
-Decreased number of suicide attempts and self-harm behaviors

Clinicians who go through CAMS training have:
-Increased confidence in treating suicidal patients
-Improved communication with patients
-Enhanced clinical documentation
-Reduced risk of malpractice

Continuum of Care:
Treatment

Topic Areas:
Behavioral Health/Mental Health, Depression, Physical Health, Suicide

Ages:
Adult (25+), Young Adult (19-24)

Geographic Locations:
Rural, Urban

Delivery Settings:
Community-Based, Congregate Care Facility

Cultural Considerations:
Limited research found involving diverse populations

Audience:
This program is for clinicians and professionals who treat adolescents and adults who have recently attempted to commit suicide or who are at high risk for doing so and their patients.

Credentials:
CAMS is implemented by licensed mental health clinicians.

Manuals:
Yes

Is Training Required?
Yes, see developer info

Who can provide the required training?
Please visit the following site to learn more about training: https://cams-care.com/training-certification/cams-trained/

Program Costs (materials, training, etc.):
Yes, refer to program website

Program/Practice Website:
https://cams-care.com

Relevant Published, Peer-Reviewed Research:

Comtois, K. A., Hendricks, K. E., DeCou, C. R., Chalker, S. A., Kerbrat, A. H., Crumlish, J., … & Jobes, D. (2023). Reducing short term suicide risk after hospitalization: a randomized controlled trial of the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality. Journal of affective disorders, 320, 656-666.
Ellis, T. E., Rufino, K. A., & Allen, J. G. (2017). A controlled comparison trial of the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) in an inpatient setting: Outcomes at discharge and six-month follow-up. Psychiatry research, 249, 252-260.
Jobes, D. A., Comtois, K. A., Gutierrez, P. M., Brenner, L. A., Huh, D., Chalker, S. A., … & Crow, B. (2017). A randomized controlled trial of the collaborative assessment and management of suicidality versus enhanced care as usual with suicidal soldiers. Psychiatry, 80(4), 339-356.
Pistorello, J., Jobes, D. A., Gallop, R., Compton, S. N., Locey, N. S., Au, J. S., … & Jeffcoat, T. (2021). A randomized controlled trial of the collaborative assessment and management of suicidality (CAMS) versus treatment as usual (TAU) for suicidal college students. Archives of Suicide Research, 25(4), 765-789.
Promising rating

WV Rating:
Promising
»WV Ratings Info

Rationale for Rating:

Most effective in adult populations, and most research was with a primarily female research population, sample sizes were small, and lacked diversity, program does have positive outcomes for reductions in suicidal ideation, depression, and hopelessness during treatment/intervention period, however those results were mixed and inconsistently maintained over time during follow-ups. Subjects with a borderline personality disorder diagnosis showed lesser positive effects than the treatment as usual group.

Contraindications or Concerns:
None identified

Other Registries/Ratings

The California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare:
Not On Registry

Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development:
Not On Registry

Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness:
Promising

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Model Programs Guide:
Not On Registry

Washington State Institute for Public Policy:
Not On Registry