Anxiety Interventions in MRI

With the growing popularity of MRIs, there has been a shift away from not only the technical aspects of this imaging modality, but the inclusion of more patient-centered approaches to addressing anxiety21. Over the years, there have been a number of interventions employed to help ease anxiety in MRI patients. These interventions have ranged from extremely high-tech interventions, such as virtual reality goggles,​​ the ability to view​​ movies, creating​​ a​​ relaxing environments​​ using lights and projected images in the scanning room,​​ to low-tech solutions such as music, changing​​ a​​ patient’s​​ ​​ position​​ during imaging, and prism glasses10,87,88. There have also been time-consuming interventions, such as systematic desensitization, and more immediate mediations such as​​ supplying​​ an​​ emergency call buttons to patients11,21.​​ Regardless of the varying types of interventions, anxiety in the MRI environment is​​ still​​ prevalent. This chapter will cover a broad range of interventions currently in practice, some of which you may not have heard​​ of.​​ 

This chapter is organized as follows.​​ The interventions are categorized into two types: Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM),​​ defined as medical practices and products that are not standard in medicine care,​​ and Non-CAM89.​​ The CAM interventions discussed are psychological or cognitive interventions, hypnosis, neurolinguistic programing, music therapy, guided imagery, aromatherapy, and breathing techniques. The non-CAM interventions are positioning, environmental interventions, patient​​ education, high-tech interventions, education, and sedation.