Defining the Pre-Examination Experience of MRI patients through Affective Interaction.

For many patients, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) experiences are uncomfortable and
associated with high levels of anxiety and stress. Such negative experiences may interfere with image quality and increase examination time. It is therefore necessary to understand the mental states of the patients prior to the examination in order to provide stress-relieving measures.
Studies exploring MRI-related anxiety and interventions to alleviate it have typically relied on self-reported data (e.g. STAI-6 questionnaire) or psychophysiological measures [1], usually in the waiting
room. One could however benefit from an alternative measurement approach to overcome the limitations of current methods. The purpose of our study is to develop a tool for measuring mental states in the context of MRI experiences and explore the suitability of various sensors to detect anxiety.