Abstract
AbstractAnxiety disorders in young children are highly prevalent and increase the risk of social, school, and familial problems, and also of psychiatric disorders in adolescence and adulthood. Nevertheless, effective interventions for this age group are lacking. One of the few available interventions is the Fun FRIENDS program. We examined whether young children with anxiety disorders showed less anxiety after participating in Fun FRIENDS. Twenty-eight clinically anxious children (4–8 years old) participated in the cognitive behavioural Fun FRIENDS program. The program consists of 12 weekly 1.5-hour sessions and was provided in groups of 3 to 5 children. At preintervention and direct postintervention, parents completed the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for Children and Child Behavior Checklist. Clinically and statistically significant decreases were found in number of anxiety disorders, symptom interference, emotional and behavioural problems, internalising problems, and anxiety problems. The decrease in anxious/depressed problems and externalising problems was not significant. Furthermore, higher preintervention anxiety levels predicted more treatment progress, whereas sex and age did not. The Dutch version of Fun FRIENDS is promising in treating anxiety disorders in young children. Randomised controlled trials are needed to draw definite conclusions on the effectiveness of Fun FRIENDS in a clinical setting.
Highlights
Scientific interest in anxiety disorders in young children has increased in the past decade
This study suggested that Fun FRIENDS was effective in reducing anxiety of young children referred to a mental health service for anxiety symptoms (Carlyle, 2014)
The aim of the current study is to examine whether young children with anxiety disorders show fewer anxiety symptoms after participating in the Dutch version of the Fun FRIENDS program, and to identify predictors of treatment progress
Summary
Scientific interest in anxiety disorders in young children has increased in the past decade. Three studies have studied the outcomes of Fun FRIENDS delivered as a treatment program for young children with clinical internalising symptoms or anxiety disorders (Barrett, Fisak, & Cooper, 2015; Carlyle, 2014; Fisak, Gallegos-Guarjardo, Verreynne, & Barrett, 2018) Both prevention studies were randomised controlled trials in which Fun FRIENDS was delivered in a universal, classroom-based manner by psychology students or classroom teachers. In the first prevention study (N = 263, mean age = 4.56, SD = 0.51; Pahl & Barrett, 2010), both the Fun FRIENDS intervention group and the waitlist control group showed comparable improvements on parent reports of anxiety, behavioural inhibition, and social-emotional strength.
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