MANAGING CLAUSTROPHOBIA IN MRI EXAMINATION: A MINI REVIEW

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a cornerstone of modern diagnostic practice. However, anxiety and claustrophobia related to confined spaces, acoustic noise, and enforced immobility remain important barriers to successful image acquisition. These responses may lead to premature scan termination, motion artefacts, and compromised diagnostic quality. Although overall MRI failure rates are relatively low, recent evidence indicates that incomplete examinations are disproportionately concentrated among specific high-risk subpopulations. Patient tolerance is influenced by an interplay of human, environmental, and technology-related factors. This mini-review synthesises current evidence on interventions to reduce claustrophobia during MRI examinations, drawing on literature published between 2020 and 2025 and prioritising systematic, comparative, and practice-oriented studies. Psychological and experiential strategies, hardware and environmental modifications, and pharmacological approaches are reviewed. Psychological interventions, including structured pre-scan communication, music or audiovisual distraction, and mirror- or prism-based visual reorientation, consistently improve patient comfort and examination compliance. Technological solutions, such as open or upright MRI systems, offer benefits for selected patients; but bore diameter alone does not appear to be a decisive determinant of claustrophobia reduction. Pharmacological sedation, when delivered within established safety frameworks, is associated with very high scan completion rates in patients who are unable to tolerate MRI using non-pharmacological measures alone. Collectively, the evidence supports a pragmatic, stepwise approach to managing MRI-related claustrophobia: early risk identification at booking, universal application of communication and distraction strategies, selective matching of scanner hardware for high-need patients, and the judicious use of protocol-guided sedation when necessary. Adopting this structured strategy can enhance the patient experience, maintain procedural safety, and optimise diagnostic yield in contemporary MRI practice.