My 16 year old is paying people to be her friends

I have a 16 year old daughter who has never had friends. Recently, she suddenly has appeared with a very close knit group of three boys. At first I was thrilled,  until I found out she'd been paying them 5 dollars each an per hour to hang out with her. Should I tell her not to see them again?

On the one hand I don't want to give my consent by not calling her out. However,  I don't want to forbid her from seeing them because not having friends has triggered depressive episodes and her mood has improve significantly.

A little history. When she first entered first grade she was diagnosed with severe anxiety. In addition, we had to transfer schools about once every year due to severe bullying. When she was around 10 years old her behavior took a turn for the worst. She became explosive, developed a I don't give a flyin F*** attitude and became manuipulative. Within a year we had to put her in a residential treatment program. At sixteen her behavior stabilized enough so we placed her in a small piolt school. We have tried medication but it makes her worse rather than better.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Your daugter is displaying ongoing signs of serious emotional disturbance. This condition requires intensive treatment of the sort that she has received in the past. I hope she is under the care of mental health professionals now. She should not be placed in a regular school program. She should be attending a therapeutic day program.