Évaluation d’un programme novateur de réadaptation par les arts de la scène pour des jeunes présentant un trouble psychiatrique stabilisé : le programme Espace de Transition

The objective of this thesis was to evaluate Espace de Transition (ET), an innovative art-based program aimed at fostering the rehabilitation of adolescents and young adults with recently stabilized psychiatric disorders and diminishing the stigmatization experienced by individuals with mental health problems. This program was designed by a team of clinicians from Ste-Justine Hospital’s psychiatry unit, in collaboration with professional artists. It is delivered since the spring of 2009.  The evaluation of program ET was conducted in an independent yet collaborative manner, using a naturalistic approach and mixed methods. Data were collected before, during, and after the program from all participants who took part in two distinct sessions (N = 24), as well as from the two artist instructors, the psychoeducator who provided clinical support during the workshops, and the clinicians who referred participants (N=11). Individual and group semi-structured interviews, direct observations, and questionnaires served to collect the necessary data. Quantitative analyses of variance and qualitative thematic analyses were conducted and their results were interpreted in an integrated manner.  The first empirical chapter of the thesis reports on the evaluation of the implementation of program ET. This evaluation showed that the program reached participants closely corresponding to its targeted population and that these youths globally presented elevated levels of assiduity, engagement in, and appreciation of the program. This evaluation also allowed to conclude that most essential program components were delivered as intended by designers and were largely appreciated and judged pertinent by participants and other respondents.   The second empirical chapter presents an article detailing the evaluation of the effects of the program ET. This evaluation focused on three of its intermediate objectives: the improvement of 1) global functioning, 2) social comfort and competence, and 3) self-perception in program participants suffering from mental disorders. Results of this study revealed significant and positive changes in the global functioning of participants following the program, as assessed by their referring clinicians and partially corroborated by participants themselves. Improvements in social comfort and competence and self-perception were also noted in a substantial proportion of participants, although they did not translate in significant differences detected by group-level quantitative analyses.   The third and last empirical chapter of the thesis reports on a study which sought to explore the mechanisms underlying the effects of program ET and to inductively elaborate a theory of action of the program. This qualitative investigation revealed four categories of mechanisms: 1) social experience and gratification, 2) desensitization by gradual exposure, 3) success and valorization, and 4) normalization. This study also allowed to identify program characteristics and components that seemed to favor the onset or impact of these mechanisms, such as the non-clinical setting and conducting of the program, the heterogeneous composition of the groups, the use of performing arts, and the pursuit of a collectively achieved artistic product and its presentation to an external public.  Globally, the studies presented in the thesis support the relevance and promising character of program ET, while suggesting potential improvements for future versions. By extension, the thesis supports the potential efficacy of rehabilitation strategies which include components analogous to those of ET in fostering the recovery of youths with mental disorders.

Keyphrases: Youths, Mental disorders, Rehabilitation, Art-based interventions, Implementation assessment, Effects evaluation, Theory of action, Mixed methods