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A new article in The Lancet Psychiatry investigates the effect of a classroom-based cognitive behaviour therapy programme called FRIENDS on anxiety symptoms in children. The authors conducted a three-group cluster randomised controlled trial. A
total of 45 primary schools in southwest England were recruited into the trial,
which took place in the 2011/2012 school year. Pupils aged 9 and 10 (n=497) were
randomly assigned to receive either school-led FRIENDS (led by a teacher or
school staff member), health-led FRIENDS (led by two trained health
facilitators), or their usual school provision. Outcomes were collected by a
self-completed questionnaire.
The authors found that training teachers to deliver the programme was not as
effective as delivery by health professionals. After 12 months, there were
significant improvements in the children's self-reported low mood and anxiety
for those that had received the health-led intervention compared to the
school-led approach. However, the school-led approach was more effective than
normal provision.
The report concludes that universally delivered anxiety prevention programmes
can be effective when used in schools. However, programme effectiveness varies
depending on who delivers them.
Source: Classroom-based Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
(FRIENDS): A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial to Prevent Anxiety in Children
through Education in Schools (PACES) (2014), The Lancet Psychiatry,
1(3).