Strategies to cope claustrophobia during magnetic resonance imaging examination

Background: Claustrophobia associated with MRI scan is a well-recognized problem all over the world. The unpleasant psychological experience during MRI can lead to premature cancellation of the study resulting in non-interpretable data. In addition, performing future studies on the claustrophobic patient may not be possible leading to non-utilization of an important diagnostic modality. This study was conducted with the aim to determine a cheap and short intervention which can be applicable to small radiology set up as well.Methods: A prospective study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital from October 2016 to December 2016. Accompanying someone was the first strategy used to coped MR imaging claustrophobia followed by placebo (multivitamin), listening Quran and closed eye (blindfold). All those patients who failed to respond in these strategies were finally labeled as an unsuccessful candidate. Listening of Quran was selected as one of the tools as all the patients were Muslims in present study.Results: Among 84 claustrophobic patients, a closed eye was the most successful strategy found effective in (13) 81.2%, followed by placebo 66.7% patients, listening Quran (7) 30.4%, accompanying someone (15) 17.85% while 4% patients remained claustrophobic after application of all strategies. Significant association of accompanying someone and placebo was observed with education (p-value 0.037) and age of the patients (0.016) respectively.Conclusions: In general, placebo, being accompanied by someone and blindfold were found to be the most effective strategies to cope with MRI related claustrophobia. However, the success of these strategies is also dependent on certain factors like age, education status and socioeconomic status of the patients.

Effects of acupoint specificity on claustrophobia / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effectiveness of acupuncture on claustrophobia, and to explore the effects of acupoint specificity on claustrophobia.@*METHODS@#This was an evaluator-blinded randomized controlled trial. One hundred and sixty patients who presented with claustrophobia during magnetic resonance imaging examination were randomized into an acupoint group, a non-acupoint group, a sham-acupoint group and a blank group, 40 cases in each one. The patients in the acupoint group were treated with acupuncture at Zhaohai (KI 6), Taichong (LR 3), Lingdao (HT 4), Neiguan (PC 6), Shenmen (HT 7), Danzhong (CV 17), Baihui (GV 20) and Fengchi (GB 20). The patients in the non-acupoint group were treated with acupuncture at points 0.5 next to the acupoints above. The patients in the sham-acupoint group were treated with acupuncture at acupoints not closely correlated to claustrophobia in corresponding segment. All the acupuncture was given once. No treatment was used in the blank group. The state anxiety questionnaire (S-AI) was observed in all the patients at the end of MRI examination before and after treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared among four groups.@*RESULTS@#Compared before treatment, the S-AI score was reduced in the acupoint group, non-acupoint group and sham-acupoint group after treatment (0.05). After treatment, the S-AI scores in the acupoint group, non-acupoint group and sham-acupoint group was lower than that in the blank group (<0.05, <0.01), and the differences of S-AI score were higher than that in the blank group (<0.01). The S-AI score in the acupoint group was lower than that in the non-acupoint group and sham-acupoint group (<0.05), and the difference of S-AI score was higher than those in the non-acupoint group and sham-acupoint group (<0.05). The difference of S-AI score in the non-acupoint group was higher than that in sham-acupoint group (<0.05). The total effective rate was 92.5% (37/40) in the acupoint group, which was significantly superior to 25.0% (10/40) in the non- acupoint group, 17.5% (7/40) in the sham-acupoint group and 5.0% (2/40) in the blank group (<0.05, <0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#Acupuncture showes superior effect on claustrophobia, and its tranquilizing effect may be related with acupoint specificity.

Hipnose para controle de claustrofobia em exames de ressonância magnética / Hypnosis for management of claustrophobia in magnetic resonance imaging

OBJETIVO: Testar a eficácia da hipnose para o controle de claustrofobia em pacientes submetidos a exames de ressonância magnética. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Vinte pacientes claustrofóbicos, com indicação de sedação para ressonância magnética, foram submetidos a hipnose pela técnica de Braid. Os pacientes suscetíveis à hipnose foram encaminhados para realização do exame em estado de transe hipnótico, sem uso de medicamentos para sedação. RESULTADOS: Da amostra estudada, 18 casos (90 por cento) foram suscetíveis à técnica. Dos 16 pacientes sensíveis à hipnose que compareceram para a ressonância magnética, 15 (93,8 por cento) realizaram o exame em transe hipnótico, sem ocorrência de crise de claustrofobia e sem necessitar de medicamentos para sedação. CONCLUSÃO: Hipnose é uma alternativa para a sedação medicamentosa em pacientes claustrofóbicos que necessitam realizar ressonância magnética.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of hypnosis for management of claustrophobia in patients submitted to magnetic resonance imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty claustrophobic patients referred for magnetic resonance imaging under sedation were submitted to hypnosis using the Braid technique. The patients susceptible to hypnosis were submitted to magnetic resonance imaging under hypnotic trance without using sedative drugs. RESULTS: Out of the sample, 18 (90 percent) patients were susceptible to the technique. Of the 16 hypnotizable subjects who were submitted to magnetic resonance imaging, 15 (93.8 percent) could complete the examination under hypnotic trance, with no sign of claustrophobia and without need of sedative drugs. CONCLUSION: Hypnosis is an alternative to anesthetic sedation for claustrophobic patients who must undergo magnetic resonance imaging.

Comparison of Claustrophobia, Noise Sensitivity and Vital Signs according to Anxiety Sensitivity Level before and after MRI / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: The present study was conducted in order to examine claustrophobia, noise sensitivity and vital signs according to anxiety sensitivity level in patients who have Magnet Resonance Imaging(MRI). METHODS: With 100 outpatients, we measured anxiety sensitivity, claustrophobia, noise sensitivity and vital sign before and after MRI. Measuring tools were ASI, CLQ-M, and NSI. Data were collected from February to March, 2008. RESULTS: The ASI score was higher in women than in men(p < .05), and no statistically significant difference was observed according to age, region of scanning, experience in MRI, and the use of contrast agent. Both men and women patients showed the same ASI score and decrease in CLQ-M and NSI between before and after MRI. In women, ASI, CLQ-M and NSI were in positive correlation with one another(p < .001), and in men, there was no correlation between ASI and CLQ-M, and positive correlation was observed with NSI(p < .05). In comparison according to ASI level, blood pressure and pulse rate were not different in men and women. CLQ-M was not different in men, but was different in women(p < .001). NSI was different in both men and women(men p < .05; women p < .001). CONCLUSION: MRI may cause claustrophobia in patients with high anxiety sensitivity, and noise appears to aggravate anxiety. In particular, claustrophobia was more serious in women than in men. Therefore, it is necessary to develop nursing interventions to reduce anxiety sensitivity particularly for female patients, and to make plans to educate and lower noise before MRI in order to reduce claustrophobia.

Comparison of Claustrophobia, Noise Sensitivity and Vital Signs according to Anxiety Sensitivity Level before and after MRI / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: The present study was conducted in order to examine claustrophobia, noise sensitivity and vital signs according to anxiety sensitivity level in patients who have Magnet Resonance Imaging(MRI). METHODS: With 100 outpatients, we measured anxiety sensitivity, claustrophobia, noise sensitivity and vital sign before and after MRI. Measuring tools were ASI, CLQ-M, and NSI. Data were collected from February to March, 2008. RESULTS: The ASI score was higher in women than in men(p < .05), and no statistically significant difference was observed according to age, region of scanning, experience in MRI, and the use of contrast agent. Both men and women patients showed the same ASI score and decrease in CLQ-M and NSI between before and after MRI. In women, ASI, CLQ-M and NSI were in positive correlation with one another(p < .001), and in men, there was no correlation between ASI and CLQ-M, and positive correlation was observed with NSI(p < .05). In comparison according to ASI level, blood pressure and pulse rate were not different in men and women. CLQ-M was not different in men, but was different in women(p < .001). NSI was different in both men and women(men p < .05; women p < .001). CONCLUSION: MRI may cause claustrophobia in patients with high anxiety sensitivity, and noise appears to aggravate anxiety. In particular, claustrophobia was more serious in women than in men. Therefore, it is necessary to develop nursing interventions to reduce anxiety sensitivity particularly for female patients, and to make plans to educate and lower noise before MRI in order to reduce claustrophobia.