Psychological reactions related to fetal magnetic resonance imaging: a follow-up study

Aims: 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.