ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Minerva Psichiatrica 2018 June;59(2):111-7

DOI: 10.23736/S0391-1772.18.01960-X

Copyright © 2018 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

The effect of psychological preparation on the level of anxiety before magnetic resonance imaging of head and neck

Forouzan BEHROUZIAN ¹, Sorour NEMATPOUR ¹, Hamid DEHDASHTI SHAHROKH ², Mehrnaz JALALIAN LARKI ³ ✉

¹ Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Golestan Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran; ² Department of Radiology, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran; ³ Student Research Committee, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI (is one of the most important medical innovations, and there is a huge increase in the use of this technique in clinical environments every day. Regarding the role of MRI in determining the definitive diagnosis of some diseases and the necessity of doing it, and since some people are not able to do it because to anxiety, claustrophobia, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of psychological preparation on the level of anxiety before MRI of head and neck in outpatients referring to Ahvaz Golestan Hospital.
METHODS: In a clinical trial study, 66 patients who were candidate for MRI of head and neck without previous history of MRI, were referred to Ahvaz Golestan Hospital, aged 18-65 entered into the study. The patients were randomly divided into two groups of case group and control group (N.=33). A clinical demographic questionnaire was completed based on information obtained from patients and patient records. Then, Spielberg’s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Test was used to measure patient anxiety.
RESULTS: The level of anxiety in the case group decreased from 54.18±2.51 (base) to 49.42±2.21, which was significant (P<0.001). State anxiety average after intervention in the intervention group (49.42±2.21) was significantly lower than the control group (53.30±2.51) (P=0.003). The results of trait anxiety analysis showed that there was no significant difference between two groups after intervention (P>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Psychological preparation before performing MRI could significantly reduce anxiety in patients; thus this can be considered as an efficient method in decreasing anxiety.

KEY WORDS: Anxiety - Magnetic resonance imaging - Test anxiety scale