Citation

Stallard P, Simpson N, Anderson SK, Goddard M. Eur. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry 2008; 17(5): 283-289.

Affiliation

Mental Health Research & Development Unit, University of Bath, Wessex House, Level 7, Bath BA2 7AY, UK. p.stallard@bath.ac.uk

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00787-007-0665-5

PMID

18071841

Abstract

A universal cognitive behaviour therapy emotional health programme, FRIENDS, was provided in schools by trained school nurses to 106 children aged 9/10. Anxiety and self-esteem were re-assessed in 63 children one year after completing the programme. The significant improvements in emotional health identified 3 months after FRIENDS were maintained 12 month after completing the programme. Of the 9 children identified at baseline as high risk, 6 (67%) had moved into the low risk category by the 12 month follow-up. Of the low risk children, none had become high risk by follow-up. The study conclusions are limited by a small sample size and the absence of a comparison group. They are however consistent with previous studies and suggest that FRIENDS delivered in schools as a universal intervention can have a significant medium term effect upon emotional health.

Language: en