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Published in: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 5/2008

01-08-2008 | ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION

The FRIENDS emotional health prevention programme

12 month follow-up of a universal UK school based trial

Authors: Paul Stallard, Neil Simpson, Sue Anderson, Meghan Goddard

Published in: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry | Issue 5/2008

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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.
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Metadata
Title
The FRIENDS emotional health prevention programme
12 month follow-up of a universal UK school based trial
Authors
Paul Stallard
Neil Simpson
Sue Anderson
Meghan Goddard
Publication date
01-08-2008
Publisher
D. Steinkopff-Verlag
Published in
European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry / Issue 5/2008
Print ISSN: 1018-8827
Electronic ISSN: 1435-165X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-007-0665-5

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