With open MRIs the magnet is not that powerful. Right now many facilities are upgrading to 3T vs 1.5T. With open MRIs they are about 0.6T so obviously pictures are not clear and for brain/neck is not of much value.

But on the other hand open bore MRIs (it is a tube but both sides are open so you don't get that much claustrophobia) and they do have 3Ts.

I have done about 6 or 7 MRIs of brain (with and without contrast), cervical spine, auditory canals, sinuses and even for TMJ Brain MRI with and without contrast took more than a hour. First time towards the end I completely freaked out. Some times I took Xanax (there you go again) to relax. TMJ brain was the toughest one. They give you device which you keep clicking to open your jaw, they take picture, again click to open wide, take picture and goes on and very painful.

Open bore MRIs are very tolerable even though in a tube. With new 7Ts MRIs on research you really have to go into a very long tube and many cannot tolerate. My friend ( a research guy in Philly) mentioned some even in the MRI room got nausea/dizziness before getting inside. But he can lay still there for 3 hours there. All depends on each individual I guess.

Open MRIs will be last option who really cannot tolerate and doctors usually don't recommend it.

I didn't know whether I became claustrophobic because of TBI or I already had it.

Cheers!