Reducing the Prevalence of Anxiety in Children and Adolescents: An Evaluation of the Evidence Base for the FRIENDS for Life Program

Abstract

Current estimates suggest that between 8 and 22% of children and adolescents may suffer from an anxiety disorder. Effective intervention efforts are therefore clearly needed to reduce the likelihood of anxious symptoms and promote healthy functioning. One intervention that appears feasible for use in schools and was designed to target anxiety symptoms is the FRIENDS for Life program. Evaluation of FRIENDS has been limited in the United States; however, criteria for evaluation of such programs are available. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to review the research base regarding the FRIENDS for Life program and apply coding procedures to examine program effectiveness. Overall, results suggested promise for use in school-based settings, given demonstrated effectiveness in reducing anxiety symptoms in both universal and targeted populations when implemented within the school ecology. Limitations of the existing evidence base, however, are discussed, thus providing direction for future research.

The FRIENDS Emotional Health Program for Minority Groups at Risk

“…Delivering programs in school settings within regular school hours increases the accessibility and integration of mental health services within the existing school ecology . Not only does the school setting represent a powerful venue to deliver mental health services, but, consistent with the results of this study, students are likely to find the supports to be acceptable and the skills as useful in their lives.…”

Pilot study for the fidelity, acceptability, and effectiveness of a PBIS program plus mental health supports in under‐resourced urban schools

“…We consulted repositories of EBPs (e.g., http://nrepp.samhsa.gov/landing.aspx, http://www.ebbp.org) and meta‐analyses of group treatments (e.g., Briesch, Sanetti, & Briesch, ) to identify group‐based interventions that could be used at Tier 2. We examined the literature on mental health promotion in children (e.g., Durlak, Domitrovich, Weissberg, & Gullotta, ; Weisz, Sandler, Durlak, & Anton, ) and identified programs that emphasize the teaching of anger management, problem‐solving, social awareness and relationship building.…”

Examining Effectiveness of Group Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Externalizing and Internalizing Disorders in Urban Schools

“…FRIENDS (Barrett, 2008) has been shown to be effective for the prevention and treatment of anxiety disorders (Briesch, Sanetti, & Briesch, 2010). For example, in a randomized trial with children diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, 69% of children assigned to FRIENDS were diagnosis free at the end of the 10-week trial compared with 6% of children assigned to a wait-list condition (Shortt, Barrett, & Fox, 2001).…”

“…For example, in a randomized trial with children diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, 69% of children assigned to FRIENDS were diagnosis free at the end of the 10-week trial compared with 6% of children assigned to a wait-list condition (Shortt, Barrett, & Fox, 2001). It has been shown that FRIENDS is an effective school-based intervention for at-risk children as well as for children who meet diagnostic criteria for an anxiety disorder (Briesch et al, 2010). …”