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01-05-2013 | Magnetic Resonance

Psychosocial consequences and severity of disclosed incidental findings from whole-body MRI in a general population study

Authors: Carsten Oliver Schmidt, Katrin Hegenscheid, Pia Erdmann, Thomas Kohlmann, Martin Langanke, Henry Völzke, Ralf Puls, Heinrich Assel, Reiner Biffar, Hans Jörgen Grabe

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 5/2013

Abstract

Objectives

Little is known about the psychosocial impact and subjective interpretation of communicated incide ntal findings from whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (wb-MRI). This was addressed with this general population study.

Methods

Data was based on the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP), Germany. SHIP comprised a 1.5-T wb-MRI examination. A postal survey was conducted among the first 471 participants, aged 23–84 years, who received a notification about incidental findings (response 86.0 %, n = 405). The severity of incidental findings was assessed from the participants’ and radiologists’ perspective.

Results

In total, 394 participants (97.3 %) wanted to learn about their health by undergoing wb-MRI. Strong distress while waiting for a potential notification of an incidental finding was reported by 40 participants (9.9 %), whereas 116 (28.6 %) reported moderate to severe psychological distress thereafter. Strong disagreement was noted between the subjective and radiological evaluation of the findings’ severity (kappa = 0.02). Almost all participants (n = 389, 96.0 %) were very satisfied with their examination.

Conclusions

Despite the high satisfaction of most participants, there were numerous adverse consequences concerning the communication of incidental findings and false expectations about the likely potential benefits of whole-body-MRI.

Key Points

• Disclosed incidental findings from MRI may lead to substantial psychosocial distress.

• Subjective and radiological evaluations of incidental findings’ severity differ strongly.

• Disclosing incidental findings is strongly endorsed by study volunteers.

• Study volunteers tend to have false expectations about potential benefits from MRI.

• Minimizing stress in study volunteers should be a key aim in MRI research.

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Title: Psychosocial consequences and severity of disclosed incidental findings from whole-body MRI in a general population study
Authors: Carsten Oliver Schmidt
Katrin Hegenscheid
Pia Erdmann
Thomas Kohlmann
Martin Langanke
Henry Völzke
Ralf Puls
Heinrich Assel
Reiner Biffar
Hans Jörgen Grabe
Publication date: 01-05-2013
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: European Radiology / Issue 5/2013
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-012-2723-8

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Psychosocial consequences and severity of disclosed incidental findings from whole-body MRI in a general population study

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Key Points

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Key Points

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