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

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 (<i>η</i>² = 0.21, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and Participation/Role Function (<i>η</i>² = 0.18, <i>p</i> = 0.003). Notably, MBSR additionally yielded a significant improvement in Memory and Thinking (<i>η</i>²=0.24, <i>p</i> = 0.001), an effect not observed with CRT (<i>p</i> > 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.