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Dear SPMers, Can anyone offer additional suggestions on how to screen patients for claustrophobia? I have used "standard" screening techniques up until now; however, I am scanning patients who have recently been discharged from an ICU and have had more patients than expected who were "surprised" at their level of discomfort inside the bore. I have found some useful suggestions by this in press paper: Susan Thorpea, Paul M. Salkovskis, Antonia Dittner Claustrophobia in MRI: the role of cognitions doi:10.1016/j.mri.2008.01.022 Interestingly they found that neither previous MRIs nor removal of a the head coil predicted better or worse reactions inside a scanner but that previous history of panic attacks was related to future claustrophobic experiences... Any suggestions, anecdotal or otherwise would be much appreciated! Thanks -- Max Gunther, PhD Department of Radiological Sciences Center for Health Services Research Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville, TN www.icudelirium.org