Have you ever heard of “scanxiety”? If that term is unfamiliar, you’ve almost certainly felt the symptom it describes: stress related to medical imaging. Experienced by over half of all patients, appointments for CT scans, MRIs or X-rays can often be an uncomfortable experience. Beyond fear of the diagnosis, the noises, sense of confinement and uncertainty over timing all feed into this tension. How can you soothe that distress and face your procedures with greater calm? Let’s explore your possibilities.
Anticipatory anxiety: what drives it?
Understanding the stress mechanisms
Anticipatory anxiety kicks in when you perceive a future event as threatening. No matter how hard you reason with yourself, alarming scenarios parade through your mind: “what if the scan uncovers something serious?”, “what if I get stuck inside the machine?”, “what if I have to be admitted to hospital?”…
This bewildering yet incapacitating phenomenon arises from activation of the limbic system, our emotional centre, which goes on high alert in the face of uncertainty. As the event draws nearer, stress intensifies, disrupting sleep, appetite and concentration.
On a physiological level, activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis releases cortisol and adrenaline, giving rise to familiar anxiety symptoms:
- increased heart rate;
- shallow breathing;
- muscle tension;
- heightened alertness.
Commonly known as the “fight-or-flight” response, this reaction becomes counter-productive if prolonged. Like an engine revving at full throttle, the body’s resources become depleted and the vicious cycle of fear strengthens.
Main stressors in the medical setting
Few patients arrive at hospital without some trepidation. Appointments and hospital stays are often tinged with doubt and apprehension. Several factors underpin this anxiety:
- Fear of the unknown: unfathomable medical jargon and the imposing appearance of the machines amplify feelings of powerlessness and fuel catastrophic imaginings.
- Waiting for results: uncertainty around the diagnosis creates pressure that tests patience. Minutes stretch into hours, and silence can feel like a bad omen.
- Clinical environment: the hum of machines, sterile atmosphere and physical constraints (immobility, awkward positions) act as significant stress triggers.
- Recall of past negative experiences: a single unpleasant memory, whether personal or recounted by others, can turn a routine appointment into a daunting ordeal.
A survey of 349 patients scheduled for contrast-enhanced CT scans found that the injection itself, fear of radiation and the confined environment were among the prime sources of anxiety. [1]
Health impacts of anxiety
Beyond the sheer discomfort, anxiety carries other physical and mental consequences:
- sleep disturbances;
- headaches;
- muscle tension;
- digestive issues;
- irritability;
- risk of dependency (anxiolytics, alcohol, etc.).
In the long term, chronic stress weakens the immune system and may delay recovery. Patient anxiety also complicates care delivery for medical staff.
A meta-analysis of multiple studies estimates that 0.5 % to 14.5 % of MRI scans are halted prematurely due to severe anxiety or claustrophobia. In such cases, the patient abandons the procedure, compromising diagnostic quality and often necessitating a repeat scan under the same stressful conditions. [2]
Scanxiety: how to alleviate it?
The term “scanxiety” refers specifically to anxiety around medical imaging and awaiting results.
1. Mental preparation with reliable sources
Information online is not always accurate. To avoid fuelling your anxiety, be discerning:
- consult reputable institutional websites (e.g. NHS, recognised medical associations);
- check the scientific references cited in any articles you read;
- ask your doctor for a detailed guide to what the procedure will involve.
Understanding each step helps counter catastrophic thinking, as shown in studies on no-shows due to exam fears. [3]
Also inquire about expected result turnaround times and how results will be communicated (telephone, online portal, etc.). While you can’t eliminate the wait entirely, knowing what to expect reduces uncertainty and restores a sense of control.
2. Distraction to prevent overthinking
Keeping your mind occupied is one of the most effective ways to stop fixating on exam-related anxiety. The more you dwell on it, the more it intensifies. Conversely, engaging fully in another activity can make you forget the appointment altogether!
Try immersive pastimes such as reading or jigsaw puzzles, or creative and hands-on hobbies like painting or gardening. Fresh-air walks boost endorphin production, promoting relaxation.
3. Seeking social support
Sharing your worries with a friend or support group helps put things in perspective. Voicing your fears already diminishes their power. You’ll discover others have felt the same way and learned coping strategies.
If possible, arrange for someone to accompany you on the day of the scan. Knowing that someone is waiting for you afterwards, ready to listen and support, significantly eases feelings of isolation and anxiety.
4. Pre-scan relaxation techniques
Anxiety can literally take your breath away. By creating space in your chest through controlled breathing, you can physically counteract stress. Before entering the exam room, take a few minutes to practise diaphragmatic breathing:
- inhale slowly through your nose, expanding your abdomen for four seconds;
- hold your breath for four seconds;
- exhale gently over six seconds;
- repeat five times.
Guided visualisation is another powerful option: close your eyes and imagine yourself in a calming setting, a sunset beach, a fragrant forest, invoking all five senses (the sound of waves, the warmth of sand, the scent of pine).
If you’re familiar with cardiac coherence, take a brief session of six breaths per minute before the scan. This pacing stabilises heart rate and reduces cortisol release, the body’s key stress hormone.
Therapeutic virtual reality for managing stress around medical imaging
An immersive escape with multisensory experience
While relaxation techniques such as meditation or visualisation are well known, they may not suffice for highly anxious individuals who struggle to concentrate or are overwhelmed by their environment.
Virtual reality therapy circumvents these barriers by offering immediate, accessible immersion. Using carefully modelled landscapes, guided hypnotic narration and a musicotherapeutic soundtrack, the Healthy Mind VR system directly captures attention and shields the brain from anxiety-triggering stimuli. There’s no need to “force yourself to relax”: the brain is drawn, almost in spite of itself, into a state of relaxation.
In a cohort of 91 patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain, VR intervention reduced median anxiety scores by approximately 1 point on the Numerical Rating Scale (p < 0.001), and 25 % of participants reported reductions of 3 points or more. [4]
A non-pharmacological anxiety reducer
Free from sedative side effects or recovery periods, therapeutic VR taps into the brain’s attentional resources to redirect sensory perception.
In emergency settings, a feasibility study of 52 patients observed a 50% reduction in anxiety (p < 0.001) following a VR session, without medication. [5] Another study highlights VR’s role as an alternative or adjunct to sedation and analgesia. [6]
During interventional radiology or lengthy, uncomfortable scans, the headset can also help distract from physical discomfort, delivering dual benefits: reduced stress and diminished pain perception.
An ergonomic, non-invasive device
The Healthy Mind VR headset is designed for medical environments:
- lightweight;
- wireless;
- easy to disinfect;
- quick to fit.
It can be used in waiting rooms, as a prelude to scanning, or even during certain procedures when compatible (excluding MRI, due to metal components).
Healthcare professionals select the programme and adjust its duration, while retaining the ability to interact with the patient at any time.
Therapeutic virtual reality with Healthy Mind transforms the anxiety-inducing experience of medical examinations into a truly soothing break, without the need for medication. Thanks to its multi-sensory immersions, this device adapts to each profile and bypasses the most stubborn mental barriers. If you’d like to find out more about our VR headset and its full capabilities, we’d be delighted to arrange a demonstration.
Sources :
[1] Heyer CM, Thüring J, Lemburg SP, Kreddig N, Hasenbring M, Dohna M, Nicolas V. Anxiety of patients undergoing CT imaging-an underestimated problem? Acad Radiol. 2015 Jan;22 (1):105-12. doi: 10.1016/j.acra.2014.07.014. Epub 2014 Sep 16. PMID : 25239843.
[2] Dziuda, Ł., Zieliński, P., Baran, P. et al. A study of the relationship between the level of anxiety declared by MRI patients in the STAI questionnaire and their respiratory rate acquired by a fibre-optic sensor system. Sci Rep 9, 4341 (2019).
[3] Hamd, Z.Y.; Alorainy, A.I. ; Alrujaee, L.A.; Alshdayed, M.Y.; Wdaani, A.M. ; Alsubaie, A.S.; Binjardan, L.A.; Kariri, S.S. ; Alaskari, R.A.; Alsaeed, M.M.; et al. How Different Preparation Techniques Affect MRI-Induced Anxiety of MRI Patients: A Preliminary Study. Brain Sci. 2023, 13, 416.
[4] T.Prétat, et al. Efficacité et expérience utilisateur d’une intervention en réalité virtuelle dans une cohorte de patients souffrant de troubles musculo-squelettiques chroniques. N=91. PLOS Digital Health 2025.
[5] Birrenbach, T., Bühlmann, F., Exadaktylos, A. et al. Virtual Reality for Pain Relief in the Emergency Room (VIPER) – a prospective, interventional feasibility study. BMC Emerg Med 22, 113 (2022).
[6] K. Hill, et al.Dispositif de réalité virtuelle pour améliorer la tolérance de la ponction lombaire – N=1. BMJ Neurology Open, 2022.
