ORIGINAL ARTICLE

An evaluation of the FRIENDS programme: a cognitive behaviour therapy intervention to promote emotional resilience

P Stallard¹, N Simpson², S Anderson³, T Carter⁴, C Osborn⁵, S Bush⁵

¹ University of Bath/Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Care Partnership NHS Trust, Department of Child and Family Psychiatry, Royal United Hospital, Bath, UK
² Community Child Health, Bath and North East Somerset Primary Care Trust, Bath NHS House, Bath, UK
³ Bath and North East Somerset Primary Care Trust, Bath NHS House, Bath, UK
⁴ Barnardos South West Regional Office, Unit 19, Easton Business Centre, Easton, Bristol, UK
⁵ University of Bath, UK

Correspondence to:
Dr P Stallard
Professor of Child and Family Mental Health, University of Bath/Consultant Clinical Psychologist, 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{at}awp.nhs.uk

Aims: 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. Main outcome measures: 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.

Keywords: cognitive behaviour therapy; prevention; emotional problems

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