title: Reduction of claustrophobia with short-bore versus open magnetic resonance imaging: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Claustrophobia is a common problem precluding MR imaging. The purpose of the present study was to assess whether a short-bore or an open magnetic resonance (MR) scanner is superior in alleviating claustrophobia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Institutional review board approval and patient informed consent were obtained to compare short-bore versus open MR. From June 2008 to August 2009, 174 patients (139 women; mean age = 53.1 [SD 12.8]) with an overall mean score of 2.4 (SD 0.7, range 0 to 4) on the Claustrophobia Questionnaire (CLQ) and a clinical indication for imaging, were randomly assigned to receive evaluation by open or by short-bore MR. The primary outcomes were incomplete MR examinations due to a claustrophobic event. Follow-up was conducted 7 months after MR imaging. The primary analysis was performed according to the intention-to-treat strategy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With 33 claustrophobic events in the short-bore group (39% [95% confidence interval [CI] 28% to 50%) versus 23 in the open scanner group (26% [95% CI 18% to 37%]; P = 0.08) the difference was not significant. Patients with an event were in the examination room for 3.8 min (SD 4.4) in the short-bore and for 8.5 min (SD 7) in the open group (P = 0.004). This was due to an earlier occurrence of events in the short-bore group. The CLQ suffocation subscale was significantly associated with the occurrence of claustrophobic events (P = 0.003). New findings that explained symptoms were found in 69% of MR examinations and led to changes in medical treatment in 47% and surgery in 10% of patients. After 7 months, perceived claustrophobia increased in 32% of patients with events versus in only 11% of patients without events (P = 0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even recent MR cannot prevent claustrophobia suggesting that further developments to create a more patient-centered MR scanner environment are needed.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00715806.
authors: Department of Radiology, Charité, Medical School, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin and Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors: Judith
authors: J
authors: Enders
authors: Elke
authors: E
authors: Zimmermann
authors: Matthias
authors: M
authors: Rief
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Martus
authors: Randolf
authors: R
authors: Klingebiel
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Asbach
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Klessen
authors: Gerd
authors: G
authors: Diederichs
authors: Moritz
authors: M
authors: Wagner
authors: Ulf
authors: U
authors: Teichgräber
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Bengner
authors: Bernd
authors: B
authors: Hamm
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Dewey
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires