title: Strength of vital force in classical homeopathy: bio-psycho-social-spiritual correlates within a complex systems context.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore associations between a global rating for the classical homeopathic construct of vital force and clinician and patient ratings on previously validated bio-psycho-social-spiritual questionnaires.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-two (62) community-recruited patients with fibromyalgia (FM) were assessed at baseline prior to a clinical trial of individualized homeopathy. Two homeopaths jointly performed case-taking interviews. A conventional medical provider independently evaluated patients with a standardized history and physical examination. Homeopaths rated each patient's vital force (five-point Likert scale, with 1 = very weak to 5 = very strong). Homeopaths and the conventional medical provider rated their Clinical Global Impression (CGI) of the severity of illness (1 = normal; 7 = among the most extremely ill). Patients completed self-rating scales on pain, global health, mood, quality of life, coping style, health locus of control, multidimensional well-being, spirituality, sense of coherence, positive states of mind, and social desirability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Greater vital force ratings (mean 2.9 standard deviation [SD] 0.6) correlated moderately (p < or = 0.005) with less severe CGI illness ratings by the homeopaths (r =-0.59), decreased patient-rated mental confusion (r =-0.43), higher vigor (r = 0.38), and greater positive states of mind (r = 0.36). Vital force also showed correlations (p < 0.05) with lower CGI ratings by the conventional medical provider (r =-0.32), better selfrated quality of life (r = 0.33), lesser fatigue (r =-0.31), better global health (r = 0.29), greater sense of coherence (r = 0.28), powerful-others health locus of control (r = 0.27), increased emotional well-being (r = 0.27), and higher social desirability (r = 0.27), but not with age, pain, or illness duration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Homeopathic vital force ratings reflect better perceived mental function, energy, and positive dimensions of the individual, beyond absence of disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Program in Integrative Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, 85724-5153, USA. ibell@u.arizona.edu
authors.forename: Iris R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Sabrina E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Audrey J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: Gary E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Carol M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Baldwin
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006304:Health Status; D006705:Homeopathy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D019413:Qi; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D029181:Spirituality; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D013997:Time Factors