An anxiety prevention programme is not effective over the long term in UK primary schools

This NIHR funded trial of an anxiety prevention programme in UK primary schools found it was effective after one year if led by health practitioners, but not after two years. The programme was not effective at all if led by a teacher. After two years, anxiety had reduced a similar amount for both the intervention group and controls, who received the usual curriculum, including personal, social and health education (PSHE) lessons. The nine-week programme, delivered in the classroom, is based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and leads nine- and ten-year-olds through activities and tasks that, through changing the way they think, help them to counter their anxieties. The cost of the FRIENDS programme was estimated to be from £52 to £56 per child and was unlikely to be cost-effective in UK primary schools in its current form. The findings suggest there is limited evidence to support implementation of the FRIENDS anxiety prevention programme in UK primary schools.
Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH) - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news