Self-care recovery after ischemic stroke: a quasi-experimental comparison of two psychological interventions

Post-stroke patients often experience cognitive, psychological, and self-care impairments. Comparative evidence on mindfulness-based interventions and cognitive rehabilitation interventions remains limited. This study compared two psychological interventions (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy (CRT)) on post-stroke recovery outcomes. In this quasi-experimental study, 61 ischemic stroke patients were allocated to MBSR, CRT, or control groups. Outcomes included self-care, psychological status, and cognitive function assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up. Data were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models. Both MBSR and CRT were associated with significant improvements in psychological and self-care outcomes compared with the control group ( p < 0.05). MBSR was associated with greater improvement in cognitive outcomes compared to CRT ( p < 0.05). Clinically meaningful improvements were observed in intervention groups based on MCID thresholds. Both interventions were associated with improved psychological and self-care outcomes after stroke, while MBSR was associated with greater improvements in cognitive function. Further randomized controlled trials are required to confirm these findings.