Clinical Effects of Mindfulness Training on Anxiety and Depression in Hospitalized Patients With Unilateral Hemiplegia: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study
Shujing Shi, Zhimeng Wang, Ya Gao, Qingyu Ye, Jing Xing, Juanhong Shen, Weiwei HeObjective
This pilot randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effects of an 8‐week mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) program on anxiety, depression, and sleep quality in hospitalized patients with chronic unilateral hemiplegia.
Methods
Forty inpatients were randomly assigned to an intervention group ( n = 20, receiving 8 weekly one‐on‐one MBSR sessions plus routine care) or a control group ( n = 20, routine care only). The Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were administered before and after the intervention. Group allocation was concealed using sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes managed by an independent researcher.
Results
In the intervention group, significant pre‐ to postimprovements were observed in HAMA scores (from 18.10 ± 2.80 to 16.40 ± 2.60, paired t = 6.962, p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 1.62), HAMD scores (from 20.60 ± 4.81 to 19.55 ± 4.50, paired t = 3.566, p = 0.002, Cohen’s d = 0.83), and PSQI total scores (from 14.20 ± 2.46 to 12.70 ± 2.27, paired t = 7.092, p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 1.54). Between‐group comparisons revealed that the intervention group demonstrated significantly lower HAMA scores than the control group postintervention (16.40 ± 2.60 vs. 18.75 ± 2.93, Cohen’s d = 0.82, p = 0.011). No significant between‐group differences were observed in HAMD scores (19.55 ± 4.50 vs. 18.80 ± 3.99, Cohen’s d = 0.07, p = 0.581). The PSQI total score showed a marginally significant between‐group difference (12.70 ± 2.27 vs. 14.30 ± 2.81, Cohen’s d = 0.51, p = 0.055), with significant between‐group differences observed in the sleep efficiency ( p = 0.011) and time to fall asleep ( p = 0.001) subdomains.
Conclusion
This pilot study suggests that an 8‐week one‐on‐one MBSR program may effectively reduce anxiety and improve specific sleep subdomains in hospitalized patients with unilateral hemiplegia. However, given the small sample size and the lack of significant improvement in depressive symptoms, these findings should be interpreted as preliminary. Future large‐scale randomized controlled trials with extended follow‐up are warranted to confirm these observations.