A randomized controlled trial of online mindfulness-based stress reduction in chronic stroke

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) has been shown to improve mental health and well-being in people with different medical conditions. However, whether it improves outcomes in chronic stroke populations is less clear, as few studies have examined the efficacy of MBSR in this population with a randomized controlled trial and an active control condition. Our study aimed to address this gap.

People with a history of chronic stroke (n = 59) participated in a randomized controlled trial of MBSR. They were randomly assigned to an online MBSR intervention or an online Brain Health Education intervention. Both interventions were matched on a number of variables, including schedule, instructor, and format. Participants were assessed pre-, post-, and 6 months postintervention using online questionnaires and an online neuropsychological battery.

MBSR did not lead to improved anxiety F(2, 55) = 1.13, p = .321, η² = .01) or depression F(2, 68) = 0.53, p = .588, η² = .002) symptoms over time. Exploratory outcomes of cognitive functioning, physical health, and well-being also revealed no MBSR-specific improvements over time (ps > .318).

People with a history of chronic stroke reported improved outcomes from participating in either intervention, providing support that both online MBSR and Brain Health Education interventions are feasible and low-cost interventions for this population. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).