Abstract
Anxiey in patients undergoing computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging
Objectives: A significant proportion of patients undergoing either computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) experience moderate to severe levels of anxiety which sometimes lead to the termination of the procedure.
Methods: We collected several measures of anxiety (observation, questionnaires, heart rate/blood pressure) in 51 CT-patients and 52 MRI-patients before and after the procedure.
Results: The level of anxiety was altogether low for all measures. The physiological measures showed elevated levels of anxiety before the examination which returned to normal levels after the examination. Only about 10% of the patients reported strong anxiety or panic during the examination. In regard to the triggers of anxiety, the patients; concerns about possible serious diagnostic findings were clearly more important than environmental factors, negative interactions with the medical staff or waiting for the examination. MRI-patients altogether experienced more anxiety than CT-patients, probably due to the more stressful environmental conditions (constriction, noise).
Conclusion: The approximately 10% of patients who experience strong anxiety or panic should be identified before an examination using a simple screening questionnaire.l They should then receive special treatment (e.g. additional information, tranquilizers).
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