Effectiveness of Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy Undergoing Post Stroke Rehabilitation

Effectiveness of Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy Undergoing Post-stroke Rehabilitation: a Randomized Controlled Trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the efficacy of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy compared to usual care for stroke survivors undergoing inpatient rehabilitation.

It was hypothesized that group-based MBCT would lead to improving mood, mindfulness, social support, physical, and neurocognitive function; and that these improvements would be maintained over the 3-month follow-up period. Participants in the control group received only usual care, the intervention group were involved in MBCT intervention in addition to usual care. MBCT intervention was designed to consist of eight 1.5-hour group sessions over 6 consecutive weeks.

Inclusion Criteria:

• stroke patients with functional impairments
• confirmation of stroke by CT or MRI scan
• age between 18-90 years
• had adequate communication skills, cognitive and physical capacity to participate in study activities
• competence to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• severe cognitive impairment according to the Word List Learning Instrument (total score <7)
• severe depression according to the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) (total score>25)
• history of severe mental illness (psychotic disorder, schizophrenia, severe depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, suicidal tendencies)
• the current change in the antidepressant therapy.