A Mixed Methods Evaluation of the Effects of an Innovative Art-Based Rehabilitation Program for Youths with Stabilized Psychiatric Disorders

Title:A Mixed Methods Evaluation of the Effects of an Innovative Art-Based Rehabilitation Program for Youths with Stabilized Psychiatric Disorders

Volume: 5 Issue: 3

Author(s): Kim Archambault, Isabelle Archambault, Sarah Dufour, Frédéric N. Brière and Patricia Garel

Affiliation:

Keywords: Art-based interventions, effects evaluation, mental disorders, mixed methods, rehabilitation, youths.

Abstract: Objective: Art-based interventions are promising strategies to improve the well-being and adjustment of youths suffering from mental disorders, but rigorous evaluations of these interventions are scarce and warranted. This study reports on a mixed methods evaluation of the effects of All on Stage, an innovative artbased group program aimed at fostering the rehabilitation of adolescents and young adults with recently stabilized psychiatric disorders.

Method: Fifteen participants took part in the program and were included in the evaluation. At pre-program, post-program, and three-month follow-up, participants completed measures of social comfort and competence and self-perception. At the same time points, clinicians who referred participants to the program assessed their global functioning using standardized measures. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with participants and clinicians.

Results: Post-program and follow-up improvements in the general functioning of participants were observed with clinician-rated measures (p < 0.01) and were largely echoed in interview material. Improvements in selfperception and social comfort and competence were not observed quantitatively, but were reported in interviews by half of program participants and the large majority of clinicians who referred them.

Conclusions: Findings suggest that All on Stage can be successful at improving the global functioning of youths with stabilized psychiatric disorders, as well as the self-perception and the social comfort and competence of a fair proportion of them. This preliminary evaluation supports the relevance and potential efficacy of the program All on Stage and of similar initiatives as approaches to foster the rehabilitation of youths suffering from mental disorders.

Cite this article as:

Archambault Kim, Archambault Isabelle, Dufour Sarah, N. Brière Frédéric and Garel Patricia, A Mixed Methods Evaluation of the Effects of an Innovative Art-Based Rehabilitation Program for Youths with Stabilized Psychiatric Disorders, Adolescent Psychiatry 2015; 5 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/221067660503151204113049