Wrapson, WendyDorrestein, MWrapson, JTheadom, AKayes, NMSnell, DLRutherford, SRoche, MBabbage, DRTaylor, SSiegert, RJ2025-11-202025-11-202021-01-08Mindfulness, ISSN: 1868-8527 (Print); 1868-8535 (Online), SPRINGER, 12(5), 1148-1158. doi: 10.1007/s12671-020-01583-4Mindfulness (2021) 12:1148–11581868-85271868-8535http://hdl.handle.net/10292/20160Objectives: Mindfulness is an evidence-based treatment for depression but has never been rigorously tested with stroke survivors with depression. This feasibility study examined several issues relevant to a potential trial of a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) for improving mood after stroke. Methods: In 2017–2019 in New Zealand, we recruited 20 stroke survivors with low mood to undergo a 6-week, one-on-one MBI course delivered by an occupational therapist experienced in MBIs. Pre, post, and 4-week follow-up assessments were completed. Results: Fifteen participants completed all six sessions and a 4-week “booster” or top-up session. The 1-hour session duration was considered appropriate by participants and all enjoyed the face-to-face individualized format. Mean Beck Depression Inventory-II scores improved by more than one standard deviation and this was maintained at follow-up. However, the baseline assessment package was too long for some participants due to the cognitive component. Three participants indicated feeling emotionally challenged by some of the practices. These effects were managed by the mindfulness facilitator by adjusting the practice, so participants maintained their sense of agency, well-being, and overall benefit from the program. Conclusions: MBI training delivered individually over six weekly sessions was acceptable to stroke survivors with 14/15 participants reporting improved mood. Three participants reported feeling emotionally challenged by some of the practices and we recommend MBIs for stroke survivors be provided by practitioners experienced in mindfulness, working with stroke, and trauma-informed therapy. It is important now to conduct rigorous randomized controlled trials to test the effectiveness and efficacy of MBIs for stroke survivors.Open Access. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.MindfulnessStrokeAnxietyDepressionFeasibilitySocial SciencesScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicinePsychology, ClinicalPsychiatryPsychologyDependence Questionnaire LDQCognitive therapyValidationEpilepsyScale5203 Clinical and Health Psychology52 PsychologyMind and BodyNeurosciencesBrain DisordersComplementary and Integrative HealthComparative Effectiveness ResearchMental IllnessClinical ResearchClinical Trials and Supportive ActivitiesMental HealthBehavioral and Social ScienceCerebrovascularPrevention6.6 Psychological and behavioural6.7 PhysicalStroke3 Good Health and Well Being1103 Clinical Sciences1608 Sociology1701 Psychology5201 Applied and developmental psychology5203 Clinical and health psychology5205 Social and personality psychologyJournal ArticleOpenAccess10.1007/s12671-020-01583-4