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“Provides a clear and flexible framework for the treatment of suicidal behavior in outpatient settings.”

—Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy (on the second edition)


“This book is indubitably a masterpiece and ought to benefit providers and patients alike....Those of us who, due to the nature of our practice or preference, can see the patients along the continuum—from inpatient to outpatient care—will gain a lot from this book.”

—Journal of Clinical Psychiatry (on the first edition)


“User-friendly....This manual packs quite a wallop for a book so deceptively easy to read. It is a genuine advance in the state of the art and science of suicide prevention.”

—PsycCRITIQUES (on the first edition)


“David Jobes, an expert in the field of suicidology, offers an innovative method of approaching...assessment, treating, and tracking outcomes with suicidal individuals....The text is likely to resonate with a wide variety of clinicians, from the novice to the expert with years of experience.”

—Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic (on the first edition)


“No mental health professional is immune to the possibility of working with suicidal clients, and it is imperative that every clinician learn how to deliver expert care in order to save lives. The third edition of this book is a resource that every clinician would benefit from reading and drawing on in times of crisis. It offers a practical, empathic, evidence-based approach that draws on decades of experience and refinements. Jobes has once again provided an extremely valuable work for clinicians everywhere looking for ways to improve the lives of their most high-risk clients.”

—Shireen L. Rizvi, PhD, ABPP, Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey


“Through his remarkable, sustained 40-year career focused on studying and helping people who experience suicidal thoughts and behavior, Jobes has moved the field toward a more patient-centered approach. An emphasis on the patient's perspective and the clinical alliance is reflected in the four pillars of CAMS: empathy, collaboration, honesty, and suicide focus. In the third edition of this book, Jobes walks the reader through the journey of his discoveries, includes useful clinical vignettes, and provides a practical roadmap for incorporating CAMS into any clinical practice.”

—Christine Yu Moutier, MD, Chief Medical Officer, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention


“The third edition of this volume is notable for its readability and instructiveness. Very useful details about how best to implement CAMS with clients are seamlessly merged with empirical data supporting the approach. Many examples of successful (and less optimal) client outcomes, helpful worksheets, frequently asked questions, and innovative applications, including using CAMS via telehealth, contribute to the book's clinical utility. Adoption of the comprehensive CAMS framework will help allay the anxiety that clinicians experience when treating suicidal clients. The wealth of clinical wisdom imparted throughout this book makes it a 'must read.'”

—Anthony Spirito, PhD, ABPP, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University


“CAMS is arguably one of the most widely used approaches to clinical care for suicidal patients. Jobes's third edition outlines the latest advances and refinements to this incredibly effective patient-centered approach. User-friendly and accessible, the CAMS model can be readily integrated into any clinician’s therapeutic practice, regardless of background or training. The documentation templates provide an added bonus by helping clinicians ensure they meet standards of care surrounding risk assessment and documentation. Every clinician should pick up a copy of this book and keep it within easy reach.”

—Craig J. Bryan, PsyD, ABPP, Trott Gebhardt Philips Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University

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Table of Contents

Foreword, Thomas E. Joiner

1. The Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality

2. The Suicide Status Form

3. Optimizing the Use of the CAMS Framework

4. CAMS Risk Assessment

5. CAMS Treatment Planning

6. CAMS Interim Care

7. CAMS Clinical Outcomes and Disposition

8. CAMS as a Means of Decreasing Malpractice Liability

9. CAMS Adaptations and Future Developments

Epilogue

Appendix A. Contemporary Mental Health Care Developments Related to Suicide Prevention

Appendix B. Suicide Status Form–5 (SSF-5): First Session, Interim Sessions, Final Session

Appendix C. Coding Manual for the SSF Core Assessment Scales: Qualitative Assessment

Appendix D. Coding Manual for SSF Reasons for Living versus Reasons for Dying

Appendix E. Coding Manual for the SSF One-Thing Response

Appendix F. CAMS-Related Empirical Research

Appendix G. CAMS Quick Check Preparation Guide

Appendix H. CAMS Therapeutic Worksheet

Appendix I. Stabilization Support Plan

Appendix J. Complete CAMS Case Example of Carmen

Appendix K. CAMS Living Status Form

Appendix L. CAMS Rating Scale (CRS.3)

Appendix M. Frequently Asked Questions about CAMS

References

Index

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About the Author

David A. Jobes, PhD, ABPP, is Professor of Psychology, Associate Director of Clinical Training, and Director of the Suicide Prevention Laboratory at The Catholic University of America. He is also Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry in the School of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University. With research interests in suicidology for over 40 years, he has published extensively in the field and routinely conducts professional training in clinical suicidology, professional ethics, and risk management. Dr. Jobes has served as a consultant to the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Academy of Medicine, and the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command. A past president of the American Association of Suicidology (AAS), he is a member of the Board of Directors of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), serves on AFSP’s Scientific Council, and is Chair of the AFSP Public Policy Council. His work has been recognized by the Edwin S. Shneidman Award for early career contribution to suicidology, the Louis I. Dublin Award for career contribution to suicidology, and the Marsha M. Linehan Award for outstanding research in the treatment of suicide risk from AAS. He is also the recipient of the 2022 Alfred M. Wellner Award for Lifetime Achievement (for research) from the National Register of Health Service Psychologists. Dr. Jobes is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and is board certified in clinical psychology. He maintains a private clinical, consulting, and forensic practice in Maryland and Washington, DC.

• Author's website
• All titles by David A. Jobes

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Audience

Clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, clinical social workers, counselors, and psychiatric nurses.

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Course Use

Serves as a supplemental text in graduate-level courses.

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Previous editions published by Guilford:

Second Edition, © 2016
ISBN: 9781462526901

First Edition, © 2006
ISBN: 9781593853273

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New to this edition:

• Major updates based on ongoing clinical research, including tools and adaptations for additional populations and settings.
• Increased focus on implementation with adolescents, with a new extended case example.
• Vital guidance for effectively using CAMS via telehealth.
• Additional reproducible forms to photocopy or download, including a fillable PDF of the Suicide Status Form, optimized for electronic medical records.