title: The syndrome of functional dysautonomia.
abstract: A perspective on disease is proposed which treats the brain and psyche as part of the soma. The brain, operating as a computer, coordinates energy metabolism in all organs, modulating the organisms's response to stress which results in a complex mixture of sympathetic, parasympathetic and endocrine drive governing behavior and host resistance. It is postulated that automatic activity in health maintains a balanced state of autonomic neurotransmission with behavioral responses varying according to the physiologic state of either sympathetic or parasympathetic dominance. The sympathetic system, irrespective of neurotransmitters involved, is defined as an action system which uses energy and the parasympathetic system is the opposing or balancing force. Genetic influences may create a greater state of sensitivity with one or other of these systems, thus governing behavior characteristics. The degree of dominance may be responsible for the unbalanced response to stress which will in turn have a major influence on the causation of organic disease. The state of reactivity within this system is influenced by the efficiency of the oxidative process which is in turn closely related to the quantity and quality of nutrition.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004777:Environment; D004924:Escape Reaction; D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents