What Is MRI Psychology?
Simply put, MRI psychology is the study of common psychological disorders and other causes that may affect a patient’s psyche and cause anxiety in the MRI environment. Although the MRI examination is physically non-invasive, it has been known to place a considerable amount psychological strain on a significant number of patients in the form of claustrophobia and other anxiety-related disorders14,15. Anxiety is the number one reason why MRI exams are prematurely terminated or canceled, resulting in negative consequences for patients, technologists, and imaging centers16.
Studying MRI psychology is important not only for patients but technologists, radiology administrators, and ancillary patient care providers as well. When it comes to patients, understanding MRI psychology is important because it may help patients adhere to their treatment plan, which often starts with medical imaging to aid in a diagnosis. It also gives patients a clear understanding of why and what may be causing their disturbing and often disruptive anxiety-driven symptoms, which in turn may empower them to find solutions tailored to their specific needs. For example, if a patient knows that the loud sound of the MRI machine causes them anxiety and, thus, excessive sweating, then they may opt to listen to music as a distraction and ask the technologists to turn on the bore fan as high as possible.
Simply put, an MRI technologist who is well versed in the symptoms and physiology of MRI psychology will have an easier time dealing with anxious patients. This knowledge will help them identify patients who are or may become anxious and recognize the symptoms of which anxiety disorder a patient may be suffering from in order to effectively and efficiently support their patients and thereby promote personalized patient care. It also gives technologists an understating of what the patient may be experiencing, allowing them to be more empathetic.
The imaging department administrator’s main job is to provide an environment that not only supports excellent patient care, but ensures their departments are running smoothly while keeping operational costs to a minimum. Studies have shown that canceled MRI exams due to anxiety is a major contributor to increasing operational costs for many imaging centers and departments12. When imaging departments have technologists who are trained in MRI psychology, the likelihood of reducing canceled exams due to anxiety helps them decrease operational costs while increasing their standard of care.
Patient care providers, such as ordering physicians and nurses, could also benefit from becoming familiar with the psychology of MRI patients. There have been many occasions where I’ve had doctors as patients who have told me how many of their patients have problems completing their MRI exams due to anxiety and the negative consequence it has had due to delayed treatment. This is also true for nurses who may have to postpone doctor-prescribed treatments when patients cannot complete their exams as it may be dependent on medical imaging results. Likewise, it may take a lot of planning and time to transport a very sick patient to the MRI department only to have to repeat the process when the patient cannot complete their exam. When doctors and nurses become familiar with MRI psychology and common causes of anxiety during MRIs, it may prompt them to consider what pre-existing conditions, such as anxiety disorders or even medications, may contribute to reducing their patients’ chances of completing their exams; in turn, this allows for the appropriate preparation of their patients for an MRI exam.
In conclusion, the study of MRI psychology may contribute to an increased standard of healthcare, reduce patient and technologist stress, and help other healthcare providers understand the challenges their patients may face during an MRI exam. MRI psychology embodies the medical model of personalized medicine as no one is exactly alike. It can also help decrease the operational costs of medical imaging departments and, in turn, overall healthcare costs by reducing wasted MRI appointments and the costs associated with canceled exams and delayed treatment.