title: School-based intervention to reduce anxiety in children: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial (PACES).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Emotional problems such as anxiety and low mood in children are common, impair everyday functioning and increase the risk of severe mental health disorders in adulthood. Relatively few children with emotional health problems are identified and referred for treatment indicating the need to investigate preventive approaches.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study is designed to be a pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of an efficacious school-based cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) prevention program (FRIENDS) on symptoms of anxiety and low mood in children 9 to 10 years of age. The unit of allocation is schools which are assigned to one of three conditions: school-led FRIENDS, health-led FRIENDS or treatment as usual. Assessments will be undertaken at baseline, 6 months and 12 months. The primary outcome measure is change on the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale. Secondary outcome measures assess changes in self-esteem, worries, bullying and life satisfaction. An economic evaluation will be undertaken.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As of September 2011, 41 schools have been recruited and randomized. Final 12-month assessments are scheduled to be completed by May 2013.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ISRCTN23563048.
authors.affiliation: Department for Health, University of Bath, 22-23 Eastwood, Bath BA2 7AY, UK. p.stallard@bath.ac.uk
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stallard
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Rhiannon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Skryabina
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000339:Affect; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D058445:Bullying / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D004644:Emotions; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012107:Research Design; D012572:School Health Services; D012649:Self Concept; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome