Effect of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on rumination and post-traumatic growth in patients with acute cerebral infarction: A randomized controlled trial.

A randomized controlled trial tested mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) in patients with acute cerebral infarction. After six weeks, the MBCT group showed greater increases in purposeful rumination and self-care ability, along with reduced anxiety and depression symptoms and enhanced post-traumatic growth, compared to standard care. No significant improvements were observed in limb motor function or muscle strength. The findings suggest MBCT can support mental health and daily functioning during recovery from acute cerebral infarction.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The prevention and management of cerebrovascular diseases, particularly cerebral infarction - the most prevalent type of cerebrovascular disease - pose significant challenges, severely affecting patients' physical and mental health. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) has been shown to be effective in treating various mental and chronic conditions. However, there is limited evidence on its effectiveness for treating rumination in patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI). This study examines the effects of MBCT on rumination, anxiety and depression symptoms, post-traumatic growth, self-care ability, limb motor function, and muscle strength in patients with ACI. In this randomized, single-blind, parallel, single-center controlled trial, participants were recruited from the Department of Neurology and allocated randomly to either 6 weeks of mindfulness cognitive therapy or standard care. The outcomes were assessed at baseline and post-intervention (6 weeks) using the simplified Chinese event-related rumination inventory, the hospital anxiety and depression scale, the simplified Chinese post-traumatic growth inventory, the modified Barthel index (MBI), Brunnstrom hemiplegic motor function assessment, and the Lovett Muscle strength scale. Ninety-five subjects were randomly sorted into either the intervention (n = 48) or control group (n = 47). During the study, 5 (5.26%) participants were lost to follow-up, leaving 90 (94.74%) to complete the intervention. Post-intervention, both groups exhibited increased total and purposive rumination scores, with the intervention group scoring higher (P .05). MBCT can improve the purposeful rumination and self-care ability of patients with ACI, alleviate anxiety and depression symptoms, and foster post-traumatic growth. However, it did not significantly improve limb motor function or muscle strength.