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.
A combined therapy of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy reduced depression and anxiety and improved mindfulness, quality of life, and functional independence in patients with post-stroke depression. The study enrolled 60 patients from a hospital in Jiangxi, with 29 in a control group and 27 in an intervention group. Outcomes measured with standard scales showed significant group-by-time interaction effects favoring the intervention group across all measures, including depression severity, anxiety, mindfulness, quality of life, and functional independence. The authors suggest the combined intervention has clinical value as an adjunct to routine post-stroke care.