Training in positivity for stroke? A qualitative study of acceptability of use of Positive Mental Training (PosMT) as a tool to assist stroke survivors with post-stroke psychological problems and in coping with rehabilitation

Abstract

The PosMT shows potential as a tool for coping with rehabilitation and overcoming post-stroke psychological problems including anxiety and depression.

A Brief mHealth-Based Psychological Intervention in Emotion Regulation to Promote Positive Subjective Well-Being in Cardiovascular Disease Patients: A Non-Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Positive affect is also related to other CVD characteristics, such as biological responses that may be health protective, lower blood pressure, a lower level of cortisol, and less physiological activation [ 23 , 24 , 25 ]. Other studies indicate that the physiological reactivity to positive emotions acts as a counterbalance to the harmful reactivity of negative emotions, for example, helping patients to overcome the psychological consequences, including unpleasant emotions, after a CVD event [ 26 , 27 ]. From this positive perspective, a relationship is established between emotional well-being, focusing on positive emotions, and improving the emotional state of patients with CVD with better development and management of CVD [ 28 ].…”

Psychological Stress Management and Stress Reduction Strategies for Stroke Survivors: A Scoping Review

“…The type, duration, and frequency of intervention used also varied across studies, with interventions running from five sessions over 1 week (aromatherapy foot bath and massage) [ 46 ], to 6 months (antidepressant treatment with sertraline [ 49 ]; home-based psychoeducational program [ 50 ]). Most interventions ran weekly sessions over approximately 8–12 weeks ( n = 15) [ 29–31 , 40–42 , 44 , 45 , 48–52 , 54 , 55 ]. The duration of follow-up also varied significantly between studies, ranging from 0 (immediate follow-up) to 12 months.…”

“…The duration of follow-up also varied significantly between studies, ranging from 0 (immediate follow-up) to 12 months. Finally, as we placed no restrictions on study type beyond intervention studies, three studies used qualitative thematic analyses (via survey or interview) [ 37 , 40 , 48 ], in which stress emerged as a theme.…”

“…Although there was wide variability in the types of intervention trialed, most (22; 92%) utilized psychosocial interventions targeted at the individual level. These include social support [ 43 ], cognitive processes including mindfulness-based stress reduction, meditation and problem-solving therapy [ 28 , 31 , 44 , 47 ], rehabilitation or neuropsychological rehabilitation targeted at memory or leisure [ 29 , 40 ], a behavioral proactive coping intervention [ 30 ], physical activity programs [ 41 , 45 , 51 ], psychotherapy including both positive psychotherapy [ 42 , 54 ] and solution-focused brief therapy [ 55 ], creative arts therapy [ 37 ], cognitive behavioral therapy or positive mental training [ 48 , 52 ], multicomponent interventions consisting of home-based visits and mailed information, based on principles of psychoeducation [ 38 , 50 , 53 ] and training modules based on developing skills in either cognitive behavior therapy/cognitive reappraisal or heart rate variability biofeedback [ 36 , 39 ]. The remaining two studies assessed alternative medicine (aromatherapy massage and foot bath [ 46 ]), and pharmacological treatment (the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressant sertraline [ 49 ]).…”

Contribution of participation and resilience to quality of life among persons living with stroke in Sweden: a qualitative study

“…More specifically, existing interventions that build activities that have a value for patients after stroke could be investigated, to see whether they do contribute to increased resilience, as well as interventions that specifically target the building of resilience after stroke. For example, qualitative evaluation of a positive mental health programme found that it had potential to foster resilience and help overcome anxiety and depression after stroke (Mavaddat et al, 2017 ). Furthermore, future studies could also investigate whether there are gender differences in the how resilience is manifested.…”