Benson Relaxation for Anxiety and Depression After Stroke (BRT-Stroke)

July 23, 2026 updated by: Geng Nannan

Short-term Effects of Benson Relaxation Technique on Anxiety, Depression, and Prefrontal Cortical Function in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study tests whether Benson Relaxation Technique (BRT), a simple mind-body relaxation method, can help reduce anxiety and depression in patients who had an ischemic stroke 7-14 days ago. Patients will be randomly assigned to either the BRT group (receiving 20-minute relaxation sessions twice daily for 2 weeks) or a control group (receiving health education sessions of the same duration). We will measure anxiety and depression using standard questionnaires, and use near-infrared brain imaging to see if BRT changes brain activity in the prefrontal cortex. The goal is to find a safe, non-drug way to improve mood in early stroke recovery.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Many patients experience anxiety and depression in the early recovery phase, which can slow rehabilitation. Medications for mood symptoms may have side effects, especially in acute stroke patients. Benson Relaxation Technique (BRT) is a non-pharmacological mind-body intervention involving breathing exercises, muscle relaxation, and guided imagery. This single-center, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the short-term effects of BRT on anxiety, depression, sleep quality, quality of life, and prefrontal brain function in patients 7-14 days after ischemic stroke. A total of 74 participants will be randomly assigned to either the BRT group or a structured health education control group. Interventions will be delivered twice daily for 20 minutes over 14 days. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline (T0) and post-intervention (T1, day 14). Primary outcomes are anxiety and depression scores (HADS). Secondary outcomes include sleep quality (PSQI), stroke-specific quality of life (SS-QOL), and resting-state prefrontal functional connectivity measured by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

74

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • China
    • Jilin
      • Changchun, Jilin, China, 130117
        • Changchun University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Meets the diagnostic criteria for stroke set by the Neurology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, and is confirmed as ischemic stroke based on CT or MRI examination results.

    • In the acute stage of stroke (7-14 days after onset) ③ Age ≥ 18 years old ④ Clear consciousness, stable condition, and able to communicate effectively ⑤ Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) score: HADS-A ≥ 8 points or HADS-D ≥ 8 points (or both ≥ 8 points) ⑥ Voluntarily participate in this study and sign the informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Combined with severe aphasia, visual and auditory impairments, unable to cooperate with intervention and assessment

    • Combined with severe dysfunction of organs such as the heart, liver, and kidneys or malignant tumors ③ Has a clear history of mental illness or has been taking anti-psychotic drugs for a long time ④ Is currently participating in other clinical intervention studies

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: BRT Group
Behavioral: Benson Relaxation Technique
Behavioral: Benson Relaxation Technique
A 20-minute mind-body relaxation session including environment preparation, breathing regulation, systematic muscle relaxation, and guided imagery, delivered twice daily for 14 days by trained nurses at the bedside.
Active Comparator: Control Group
Behavioral: Structured Health Education
Behavioral: Structured Health Education
A 20-minute structured health education session covering stroke rehabilitation knowledge, diet guidance, medication adherence, and emotional management, delivered twice daily for 14 days by nurses at the bedside, matched in frequency and duration to the BRT group.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) - Anxiety and Depression Subscales
Time Frame: Baseline (T0, within 24 hours of enrollment) and post-intervention (T1, day 14 ± 1 day)
The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) will be used to assess anxiety (HADS-A, 7 items, 0-21 points) and depression (HADS-D, 7 items, 0-21 points). A score ≥8 on either subscale indicates clinically significant symptoms. The scale will be administered by a blinded assessor at baseline (T0) and post-intervention (T1, day 14).
Baseline (T0, within 24 hours of enrollment) and post-intervention (T1, day 14 ± 1 day)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
Time Frame: T0 and T1 (day 14)
T0 and T1 (day 14)
Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale (SS-QOL)
Time Frame: T0 and T1 (day 14)
T0 and T1 (day 14)
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)
Time Frame: T0 and T1 (day 14)
T0 and T1 (day 14)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Geng Nannan

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

July 23, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

October 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

October 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 23, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 23, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

July 28, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 28, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 23, 2026

Last Verified

July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • BRT-Stroke-2026-CCUCM

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data will not be made publicly available due to ethical restrictions and patient privacy protections for acute stroke survivors. The study involves sensitive psychological and neuroimaging data that could potentially identify participants. De-identified group-level statistical results and summary datasets may be made available upon reasonable request to the corresponding author, subject to approval by the institutional ethics committee.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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