[The use of theatre in the psychosocial readaptation of patients with mental disorders: participants' perspectives]. / Le jeu théâtral comme médium thérapeutique en réadaptation psychosociale: le point de vue des participants.

BACKGROUND: Therapy using theatrical activity was proposed to six clients with severe and persistent mental health problems. The purpose of this study was to determine what meaning the participants attributed to this experience and which aspects of the therapy they considered influential for their progress. METHOD: A formal approach, based on the opinions of the actors, was used in order to optimize the quality of the interventions. The application was as closely linked as possible to a real theatrical experience. An analysis of the qualitative data collected from a questionnaire and a semi-structured interview of three subjects selected from a purposive sampling was done by way of successive cycles of data reduction. RESULTS AND PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The participants valued the flexibility and versatility of the theatrical experience. They perceived the presence of the public as essential to enhancing their experience of pleasure and personal competency. Therapy using theatrical activity appears to be relevant in the field of psychosocial rehabilitation.

[The use of theatre as promoter of change in social skills]. / Le jeu théâtral comme inducteur de changement dans les habiletés sociales.

This article presents a case study on the use of acting with six people suffering from severe and long-lasting psychotic state. The study aims at elaborating the hypothesis on the use of this activity in readaptation. The effect of expression therapy on the development of social skills has rarely been substantiated by empirical studies. The literature review points out a poor generalization of social skills following social skills training ; it also allows a description of the acting and its therapeutic potential. A qualitative methodology is applied to an investigation conducted in a psychiatric day center and uses the description of behavior before and after the program. The results indicate resemblances between the therapeutically acquired social skills and the social behavior from everyday life. The use of acting in therapy would contribute at the generalization of social skills.