title: Psychological reactions related to fetal magnetic resonance imaging: a follow-up study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the women's retrospective perception of fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six women were investigated 1 year after fetal MRI. Data was acquired by telephone interviews and standardised rating scales (i.e., Postscan Imaging Distress Questionnaire, mood and anxiety scales).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In retrospect, most women felt that fetal MRI was associated with marked psychological distress, notably with significant greater distress than at the time of the actual investigation. In total, 55.6% of the women rated at least one aspect of fetal MRI as "not tolerable" at follow-up. These findings were irrespective of the affective status and of the outcome of the pregnancy. Yet, MRI was rated as "the most important" investigation during the prenatal period by 69.4% of subjects, and 80.6% felt that they had sufficiently been informed about the MRI findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The acceptance of fetal MRI was found to be very high; however, fetal MRI is linked with marked psychological distress, which was still present - and in many cases even stronger - 1 year after the investigation. These data highlight the importance of sufficient information about fetal MRI and the necessity of adequate emotional support in this emotional vulnerable patient sample.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. katharina.leithner@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Leithner
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Prayer
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Porstner
authors.forename: Nestor D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Kapusta
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stammler-Safar
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Krampl-Bettelheim
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hilger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001317:Austria; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000523:psychology; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology