title: An evaluation of the FRIENDS programme: a cognitive behaviour therapy intervention to promote emotional resilience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and acceptability of the FRIENDS programme.
  
  
  METHODS
  Uncontrolled before and after assessment of the FRIENDS programme, a 10 session cognitive behaviour therapy programme. A total of 213 children aged 9-10 years from six primary schools were studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  Spence Children's Anxiety Scale, Culture Free Self-Esteem Questionnaire, qualitative assessment of acceptability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  End of programme data from 197 children (92.5% of eligible sample) showed significantly lower rates of anxiety (t = 2.95, df = 384) and significantly improved levels of self-esteem (t = 3.13, df = 386). Significant improvements were obtained in over half of those children with the most severe emotional problems. A total of 190 children (89.2%) completed a qualitative assessment of acceptability: 154 (81%) thought it was fun, 147 (77.4%) would recommend it to a friend; 137 (72.8%) thought they had learned new skills, and 78 (41.1%) had helped someone else with their new skills.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The FRIENDS programme appears to be an efficacious and acceptable way to promote emotional resilience (reduced anxiety and increased self-esteem) in primary school aged children, consistent with previous studies in Australia. Further controlled studies are needed to assess natural history of anxiety and self-esteem and whether benefits are maintained over time.
authors.affiliation: University of Bath, Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Care Partnership NHS Trust, Department of Child and Family Psychiatry, Royal United Hospital, Combe Park, Bath BA1 3NG, UK. paul.stallard@awp.nhs.uk
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stallard
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Osborn
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bush
mesh_terms: D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires