A COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL APPROACH TO PREVENTING ANXIETY DURING MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING

This study evaluated a relaxation intervention designed to prevent anx iety during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and assessed the develop ment of fears in patients who felt anxious during the procedure. Patie nts were assigned to a control condition (no intervention; n = 52), re laxation before the scan (n = 44), or relaxation before and during the scan (n = 43). Compared to the control group, patients who practised relaxation showed reduced anxiety during the scan. Seven months or mor e after undergoing MRI, there was a positive correlation between anxie ty experienced during the scan and the development of MRI-related fear s. The intervention did not prevent the development of MRI-related fea rs at follow-up. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.