[Treatment of suicidal patients: The Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality].
BACKGROUND
There is still a need for more knowledge about effective methods of assessing and treating the suicidal patient. The method The Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) was tested on a group of out-patients.


METHODS
27 suicidal out-patients consecutively referred from psychiatric and somatic emergency-units in a Danish university hospital underwent CAMS treatment in a survey with qualitative and quantitative before and after measurements. The purpose was to gain more knowledge about the usefulness and effect of the CAMS method on a Danish material. Five important markers of suicidal behaviour were currently evaluated (psychological pain; press; perturbation; hopelessness; self-hate). Furthermore, we examined the patient's experience of the significance of the therapeutic sessions in relation to the elimination of his/her suicidality and collaboration with the therapist.


RESULTS
A significant decrease was seen in the five suicidal markers after the CAMS course. Furthermore, 80% of the patients experienced that the therapeutic sessions, more than anything else, eliminated the suicidal behaviour, and 92% experienced that there was genuine collaboration between the patient and the therapist. Compliance was 92%.


CONCLUSIONS
The Danish trial of the CAMS showed satisfying results - an elimination of suicidal thoughts and effective patient-therapist collaboration.
Arkov
Kirsten
K
Psykiatrisk Center Glostrup, Enheden for Psykoterapeutisk Uddannelse og Forskning, Glostrup.
Rosenbaum
Bent
B
Christiansen
Lene
L
Jønsson
Heidi
H
Münchow
Michael
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011613:Psychotherapy; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D000092864:Suicide Prevention