Reduce MRI Anxiety with Good Communication
Patients undergoing MRI may have lessened anxiety if the procedure is well-explained.
Good communication with patients prior to and during MRI scans reduces anxiety, according to a study published in the journal Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
Researchers from Turkey sought to determine how effective communication with patients about to undergo an MRI would affect anxiety as evidenced by measuring prolactin and cortisol levels, in addition to completion of the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).
The randomized prospective trial comprised 33 subjects, 14 patients, and 19 controls. The study group received standard information about the procedure and was spoken to every two minutes throughout the duration of the scan. The control group had no interventions. All subjects underwent blood draws and completed the STAI before and after the MRI.
The results showed that prolactin-pre, prolactin-post, cortisol-pre, cortisol-post, cortisol percent increase, Trait Anxiety Inventory (TAI), SAI (State Anxiety Inventory) prescan, and postscan levels were similar between demographic groups. But while cortisol-pre levels were similar between the study and control groups, prolactin-pre levels were significantly higher among the subjects in the control group. Those in the study group had a 6% lower cortisol level postscan, compared with those in the control group who had an 18% increase.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_crop","fid":"27772","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image media-image-right","id":"media_crop_5952998529606","media_crop_h":"0","media_crop_image_style":"-1","media_crop_instance":"2743","media_crop_rotate":"0","media_crop_scale_h":"0","media_crop_scale_w":"0","media_crop_w":"0","media_crop_x":"0","media_crop_y":"0","style":"height: 150px; width: 150px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 1px; float: right;","title":" ","typeof":"foaf:Image"}}]]
The STAI and Trait Anxiety scores were similar in both groups before the scan, but SAI-post scores were lower in the study group when compared with the control group. The researchers also noted that the study group had lower SAI-post scores than SAI-pre; the control group had higher scores.
The researchers concluded that anxiety related to MRI scans can be lessened by providing information about the examination and regular communication during the procedure.
FDA Clears Enhanced MRI-Guided Laser Ablation System
June 5th 2025An alternative to an open neurosurgical approach, the Visualase V2 MRI-Guided Laser Ablation System reportedly utilizes laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) for targeted soft tissue ablation in patients with brain tumors and focal epilepsy.
Can Abbreviated MRI Have an Impact in Differentiating Intraductal Papilloma and Ductal Secretion?
June 3rd 2025For patients with inconclusive ultrasound results, abbreviated breast MRI offers comparable detection of intraductal papilloma as a full breast MRI protocol at significantly reduced times for scan acquisition and interpretation, according to a new study.
FDA Issues Expanded Pediatric Approval of MRI Contrast Agent for Lung Ventilation Assessment
June 2nd 2025Previously approved for MRI lung ventilation evaluation in adults and children 12 and older, the hyperpolarized contrast agent Xenoview can now be utilized for pediatric patients six years and older.
