Effects of brain–Computer interface combined with mindfulness therapy on rehabilitation of hemiplegic patients with stroke: a randomized controlled trial

AIM: To explore the effects of brain–computer interface training combined with mindfulness therapy on Hemiplegic Patients with Stroke. BACKGROUND: The prevention and treatment of stroke still faces great challenges. Maximizing the improvement of patients’ ability to perform activities of daily living, limb motor function, and reducing anxiety, depression, and other social and psychological problems to improve patients’ overall quality of life is the focus and difficulty of clinical rehabilitation work. METHODS: Patients were recruited from December 2021 to November 2022, and assigned to either the intervention or control group following a simple randomization procedure (computer-generated random numbers). Both groups received conventional rehabilitation treatment, while patients in the intervention group additionally received brain–computer interface training and mindfulness therapy. The continuous treatment duration was 5 days per week for 8 weeks. Limb motor function, activities of daily living, mindfulness attention awareness level, sleep quality, and quality of life of the patients were measured (in T0, T1, and T2). Generalized estimated equation (GEE) were used to evaluate the effects. The trial was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2300070382). RESULTS: A total of 128 participants were randomized and 64 each were assigned to the intervention and control groups (of these, eight patients were lost to follow-up). At 6 months, compared with the control group, intervention group showed statistically significant improvements in limb motor function, mindful attention awareness, activities of daily living, sleep quality, and quality of life. CONCLUSION: Brain–computer interface combined with mindfulness therapy training can improve limb motor function, activities of daily living, mindful attention awareness, sleep quality, and quality of life in hemiplegic patients with stroke. IMPACT: This study provides valuable insights into post-stroke care. It may help improve the effect of rehabilitation nursing to improve the comprehensive ability and quality of life of patients after stroke. CLINICAL REVIEW REGISTRATION: https://www.chictr.org.cn/, identifier ChiCTR2300070382.