The Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality versus Treatment as Usual: A Retrospective Study with Suicidal Outpatients

Abstract

The Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) is a novel clinical approach used to identify, assess, and manage suicidal outpatients (Jobes & Drozd, 2004). The results of a retrospective study evaluating the impact of CAMS versus treatment as usual (TAU) on suicidal outpatients are presented. Patients in the CAMS treatment group (n = 25) resolved their suicidality significantly more quickly than TAU patients (n = 30). CAMS was also significantly associated with decreased medical health care utilization in the 6 months after the start of suicide-related mental health treatment. These results provide promising preliminary support for the effectiveness of CAMS and a foundation for prospective research.

Unresolved questions concerning the effectiveness of psychological assessment as a therapeutic intervention: Comment on Poston and Hanson (2010).

“…In addition, CAMS incorporates a "treatment planning process where [sic] the patient and clinician coauthor an outpatient treatment plan" (p. 484). Jobes et al's (2005) results, which yielded significantly greater reductions in suicidality for clients who received CAMS, compared with clients who received TAU, seemingly provided support for the efficacy of CAMS, Nevertheless, their findings should not be interpreted as supporting the assertion that "psychological assessment procedures have positive clinically meaningful effects on treatment" (Poston & Hanson, 2010, p. 203), as Jobes et al, confounded the effects of assessment and treatment by administering an intervention that incorporates components that go well beyond the assessment administered to clients. Hilsenroth, Peters, and Ackerman (2004) compared the effects of PATI in a group of outpatients at a university-based community clinic with a matched group of outpatients who received a standard information gathering (IG) model of assessment.…”

Collaborative assessment and management of suicidality (CAMS): feasibility trial for next-day appointment services

“…Jobes et al [17] conducted a nonrandomized quasi-experimental clinical trial of CAMS with suicidal US Air Force personnel. Patients working with CAMS clinicians in an outpatient setting markedly reduced their suicidal ideation in significantly fewer sessions than patients with Enhanced Care as Usual (E-CAU) clinicians.…”

Self‐determination theory, motivational interviewing, and the treatment of clients with acute suicidal ideation

“…It consists of multiple components and emphasizes an empathic and cooperative relationship as a key to providing clients' with a sense of autonomy. In a retrospective study comparing CAMS to treatment as usual, clients receiving CAMS resolved their suicidal crises in less time and used less health care in the 6 months following the crisis than did clients receiving treatment as usual (Jobes, Wong, Conrad, Drozd, & Neal-Walden, 2005). These findings suggest that understanding the relationship between autonomy and motivation may be essential for effectively treating clients with acute suicidal ideation.…”