Social connection is often impacted by acquired brain injury (ABI), contributing to isolation and compromised mental health. Group therapy is thought useful in this context. For those experiencing cognitive communication challenges, finding alternative ways to engage is also valuable. Art therapy may offer pro-social support through shared activity, self-expression, organic subject matter and enduring visual prompts.

A multiple A-B-A single case experimental design compared participation in sports discussion and art therapy groups on a long-stay secure unit. Nine individuals with ABI and complex combinations of communication, cognitive and mental health needs were studied. It was hypothesised that for some individuals, participation would be greater in art therapy than sports discussion groups.

Results from six individuals with at least five measurement points per phase are reported. Tau statistics revealed significant interphase differences for three individuals. Significantly less participation was recorded for two individuals in art than sports discussion, however they still appeared invested in the art groups. The remaining participant, with the most severe communication difficulties, avoided all baseline sports discussion groups, but participated in almost all art groups, with significant increase between initial sports discussion and art phases.

Further research is warranted regarding the potential art therapy offers for group engagement, particularly where complex challenges render traditional talking-style groups less appropriate. Furthermore, disparate and complex needs in severe ABI require diverse, well-designed groups offering different opportunities and responding to individual strengths and motivations. More research into such approaches may increase group participation in this challenging cohort.

社会联系经常受到获得性脑损伤 (ABI) 的影响，导致孤立和损害心理健康。在这种情况下，集体治疗被认为是有用的。对于那些遇到认知沟通挑战的人来说，寻找其他参与方式也很有价值。艺术疗法可以通过共享活动、自我表达、有机主题和持久的视觉提示来提供亲社会支持。

一项多 ABA 单案例实验设计比较了长期安全单元中体育讨论和艺术治疗小组的参与情况。研究了九名患有 ABI 和复杂的沟通、认知和心理健康需求组合的人。据推测，对于某些人来说，艺术治疗的参与比体育讨论小组的参与度更高。

报告了每个阶段至少有五个测量点的六个人的结果。Tau 统计显示三个个体的显着间期差异。与体育讨论相比，两个人在艺术方面的参与度要少得多，但他们似乎仍然投入到艺术团体中。剩下的参与者，沟通困难最严重，避开了所有基线体育讨论组，但参加了几乎所有的艺术组，在最初的体育讨论和艺术阶段之间有显着增加。

关于团体参与的潜在艺术疗法的进一步研究是必要的，特别是在复杂的挑战使传统的谈话式团体不太合适的情况下。此外，严重 ABI 的不同和复杂需求需要多样化、精心设计的群体，提供不同的机会并响应个人的优势和动机。对这种方法的更多研究可能会增加这个具有挑战性的队列中的群体参与。