The Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) stabilization plan for working with patients with suicide risk.

Abstract

The Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) provides clinicians with an evidence-based suicide-focused therapeutic framework to help patients understand and manage suicidal thoughts and behaviors. A key component in CAMS suicide-focused treatment planning is the development and use of the CAMS Stabilization Plan (CSP). The CSP is used to ensure between-session safety and stability by helping patients learn to cope differently, enabling clinicians to care for suicidal patients on an outpatient basis, and thereby rendering suicidal-oriented coping obsolete. While implementing and maintaining the CSP, clinicians work to identify, target, and treat patient-identified suicidal drivers aimed at lowering the patient's suicide risk. The CSP employs a collaborative, flexible, and problem-focused approach creating a unique dynamic between clinician and patient as they work together to address the patient's suicidal struggle. CAMS allows clinicians to be flexible in their approach to treating suicidal behavior, utilizing techniques and tools they know, while providing them with a unique framework to engage their suicidal patients. Additionally, there is an overt and ongoing emphasis on encouraging patients to cultivate purpose and meaning in their lives with plans, goals, and hope for the future-ultimately leading patients to discover a life worth living, which is the final focus in CAMS-guided care. Clinical Impact StatementQuestion: How can clinicians engage suicidal patients in utilizing an ongoing stabilization plan? Findings: Through the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality Stabilization Plan (CSP) clinicians can engage patients in a collaborative, flexible, and problem-focused approach to reduce a patient's suicide risk. Meaning: CAMS guided treatment planning works to develop and modify a patient's stabilization plan, as well as identify patient-articulated suicidal drivers which are targeted and treated across the course of CAMS. Next Steps: By increasing clinician use of suicide-focused crisis management planning there is real promise for decreasing suicidal suffering and saving more lives.

A Standard Protocol for the Clinical Management of Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior: Implications for the Suicide Prevention Narrative

“…One of the strongest points of convergence across RCTs is data regarding the effectiveness of safety planning, crisis response planning, and stabilization planning as clinical strategies that anticipate the emergence and importance of individual management of future suicidal episodes. Stanley et al and Ferguson et al ( 27 , 28 ) have reported on the effectiveness of the safety planning intervention (SPI) for reducing suicidal behaviors, Tyndal et al ( 29 ) have reported on the effectiveness of the CAMS stabilization plan for reducing suicidal ideation, and Bryan et al ( 22 ) have reported on the effectiveness of the crisis response plan for reducing both suicidal behaviors and suicidal ideation. Despite differences in terminology and format (e.g., use of form templates vs. index cards or digital applications), the clinical strategies referenced above all target the development and implementation of a proactive and specific plan for individual management of future suicidal episodes.…”

Introduction to the special section on suicide and crisis management in clinical practice: Theoretical and practical integration.

“…The first article in this special section provides a comprehensive review of the CAMS framework for the assessment and management of suicidal behavior (Tyndal et al, 2021). A second set of articles demonstrates the application of the Stanley and Brown Safety Planning Intervention in a juvenile detention setting (Rudd et al, 2021) and through alliance-focused training (Barzilay & Bloch-Elkouby, 2021).…”

Identification of Suicidal Ideation and Support for Families in Sub-Saharan Africa

“…Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality Stabilization Plan Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) offers a therapeutic means of helping clients recognize and handle their suicidality (Tyndal et al, 2022). Within the CAMS framework, which is evidence-based and focuses on developing a therapeutic alliance, practitioners can choose treatment approaches within their areas of expertise, if supported by research (Tyndal et al, 2022). According to Tyndal et al (2022), the CAMS Stabilization Plan (CSP) is a protocol that helps clients remain stable and safe between sessions.…”

“…Within the CAMS framework, which is evidence-based and focuses on developing a therapeutic alliance, practitioners can choose treatment approaches within their areas of expertise, if supported by research (Tyndal et al, 2022). According to Tyndal et al (2022), the CAMS Stabilization Plan (CSP) is a protocol that helps clients remain stable and safe between sessions. It includes the following four parts: a) Reducing access to lethal means.…”

“…b) Developing a list of coping and problem-solving strategies and emergency numbers to call. c) A focus on decreasing isolation and increasing social support; and d) Identifying and addressing the potential to attend therapy (Tyndal et al, 2022).…”