Psychological impact and acceptability of magnetic resonance imaging and X-ray mammography: the MARIBS Study

BACKGROUND: As part of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Breast Screening (MARIBS), Study women with a family history of breast cancer were assessed psychologically to determine the relative psychological impact and acceptability of annual screening using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and conventional X-ray mammography (XRM). METHODS: Women were assessed psychologically at baseline (4 weeks before MRI and XRM), immediately before, and immediately after, both MRI and XRM, and at follow-up (6 weeks after the scans). RESULTS: Overall, both procedures were found to be acceptable with high levels of satisfaction (MRI, 96.3 % and XRM, 97.7%; NS) and low levels of psychological morbidity throughout, particularly at 6-week follow-up. Low levels of self-reported distress were reported for both procedures (MRI, 13.5 % and XRM, 7.8%), although MRI was more distressing (P 0.005). Similarly, higher anticipatory anxiety was reported before MRI than before XRM (P 0.003). Relative to XRM, MRI-related distress was more likely to persist a