Assessment and brief psychological treatment of MRI-related anxiety in children: A controlled study with and without virtual reality simulation

Anxiety and claustrophobia frequently occur during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), often leading to sedation, particularly in pediatric populations. This study examined whether a brief psychological intervention delivered prior to MRI was associated with reduced anxiety and claustrophobia in children initially scheduled for sedated scanning. The intervention, grounded in cognitive-behavioral principles, combined psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, relaxation training, and graded exposure, with or without a virtual reality (VR) simulation of the MRI procedure. Seventy-nine children aged 6–12 years were assigned to receive preparation with or without VR. State anxiety (STAIC), claustrophobia (CLQ), and preoperative anxiety (APAIS) were assessed pre- and post-intervention, and sedation requirement during MRI was recorded. Mixed-design ANOVAs showed significant reductions in all outcomes (η 2 p = 0.056–0.132), with no significant Time × Group interactions. Only 5.3% required sedation, with no group differences. In the absence of a no-treatment control group, findings should be interpreted cautiously. Results suggest psychological preparation may reduce anxiety, while VR showed no clear additional benefit.