Mindfulness-based vs. cognitive rehabilitation interventions for post-stroke recovery: A comparative study of SIS...

Ischemic stroke survivors often experience persistent cognitive and psychosocial deficits not fully addressed by conventional rehabilitation. This study compared the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy (CRT) on Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) outcomes. In a quasi-experimental design with a control group and follow-up, 45 eligible patients were purposively sampled and randomly assigned to MBSR, CRT, or control groups. Interventions followed standardized Kabat-Zinn (MBSR) and Powell (CRT) protocols. SIS data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni tests. Participants were predominantly female (CRT:64%, MBSR:60%, control:57%). Both interventions significantly improved Communication (η² = 0.21, p < 0.001) and Participation/Role Function (η² = 0.18, p = 0.003). Notably, MBSR additionally yielded a significant improvement in Memory and Thinking (η²=0.24, p = 0.001), an effect not observed with CRT (p > 0.05). Findings suggest MBSR offers unique benefits for cognitive domains. Integrating mindfulness-based interventions into cognitive rehabilitation frameworks may enhance both cognitive and functional outcomes, representing a promising direction for future research and clinical practice.