Comparison of the effectiveness of mindfulness training and memory specificity training on the aspects of memory in patients with ischemic stroke

Abstract

Background: Memory problems were reported to be among the most common cognitive disorders affecting patients with stroke. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness training and memory specificity training on the aspects of memory in patients with ischemic stroke. Methods: A quasi-experimental design with pre/posttest and two experimental groups was used in this study. 16 patients with ischemic stroke were selected via available sampling among patients referred to Alzahra hospital, Isfahan, Iran, in 2014, and were randomly assigned into two equal groups. The groups were trained with either mindfulness training, or memory specificity training. Then, the patients were evaluated using Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ). Findings: The effect size was calculated as 4.5 and 2.3 for mindfulness training and memory specificity training, respectively, indicating marvelous effectiveness of treatment for both groups. There was significant difference between the two groups in total score of PRMQ according to ANCOVA test (P < 0.05). Furthermore, there was significant difference between the two groups in prospective memory score (P < 0.05). Conclusion: According to the findings, mindfulness training and memory specificity training had increasing effect on memory in patients with ischemic stroke. Mindfulness training was more effective on the prospective memory. © 2017, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.