Reducing MRI Anxiety in Claustrophobic Patients: Design and Evaluation of a Human-Centered Virtual Reality Exposure System

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) triggers anxiety in patients with claustrophobia. MRI scanning is a source of anxiety for patients with claustrophobia, and this anxiety can lead to unsuccessful scanning. For this purpose, this pilot study aimed to evaluate the effect of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) in reducing MRI-related anxiety in claustrophobic patients. A life-sized realistic looking MRI device with scanning sound in a hospital room has been created in a 3D modeling program and shown to patients through VR headset for exposure therapy study. The study included claustrophobic patients, who received one session of psychoeducation and four standard sessions of VRET. No difference was found between groups that could and could not undergo MRI in terms of state and trait anxiety scores and phobia scores before VRET (p = 0.459, p = 0.377, p = 0.911, respectively). While the phobia scores of the group that could undergo MRI after VRET were found to be significantly lower (p = 0.026), there was no difference in state anxiety scores (p = 0.888). When all participants were considered, a statistically significant decrease was found in phobia and state anxiety scores after treatment compared to pretreatment (p = 0.002; p < 0.001). Our findings indicate that using VR for exposure represents an effective tool for therapeutic interventions in patients.