Domain-specific responsiveness to mindfulness and cognitive rehabilitation in chronic ischemic stroke survivors.
Topics in stroke rehabilitation March 8, 2026 Lili Zhao, Forough Ahrari, Ehsan Rastbood et al.
Chronic ischemic stroke survivors show different patterns of recovery depending on whether they receive Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) or Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy (CRT). In a controlled longitudinal study with 36 participants randomly assigned to MBSR, CRT, or a control group, MBSR improved cognitive-affective domains such as memory, thinking, and participation, while CRT improved communication-related outcomes. The control group showed no significant recovery in any domain. The authors suggest that both interventions facilitate recovery through unique pathways and that domain-specific responsiveness may help tailor rehabilitation to individual patient characteristics.