title: The questionnaire on autonomic regulation: a useful concept for integrative medicine?
abstract: The concept of autonomic regulation (aR) reflects the relevance of the function of different autonomic systems for health. aR can be captured by questionnaires. We differentiate between a trait or constitutional aR questionnaire version including 12 (short-version) or 18 items, respectively, with three subscales (orthostatic-circulatory, rest/activity and digestive regulation), and an 18-item state aR questionnaire on the preceding week with four subscales (rest/activity, orthostatic-circulatory, thermo- and digestive regulation). The validated questionnaires show satisfying to good reliability and robust validity with clear construct validity. In this article, we summarized the actually available literature on aR and the use of aR questionnaires in clinical and observational studies. We described the relationship of high aR with health and in case of low aR or loss of regulation with disease and functional disorder in the three (four) different subscales and functional systems, such as rest/activity, orthostatic-circulatory or digestive regulation (thermoregulation) with the consecutive therapeutic need. Finally, we gave perspectives of its further application in clinical research.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute Havelhöhe, D-14089 Berlin, Germany.|Department of Internal Medicine, Havelhöhe Hospital, D-14089 Berlin, Germany.|Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, D-10117 Berlin, Germany.|Institute for Integrative Medicine, University of Witten/Herdecke, D-58313 Witten/Herdecke, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kröz
authors.affiliation: Society for Clinical Research, D-10623 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reif
authors.affiliation: Research Institute Havelhöhe, D-14089 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Danilo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pranga
authors.affiliation: Research Institute Havelhöhe, D-14089 Berlin, Germany.|Department of Internal Medicine, Havelhöhe Hospital, D-14089 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zerm
authors.affiliation: Research Institute Havelhöhe, D-14089 Berlin, Germany.|Department of Internal Medicine, Havelhöhe Hospital, D-14089 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Friedemann
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schad
authors.affiliation: Professorship Anthroposophic Healthcare, University of Applied Sciences Leiden, NL-2300 AJ Leiden, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Erik Wim
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Baars
authors.affiliation: Research Institute Havelhöhe, D-14089 Berlin, Germany.|Department of Internal Medicine, Havelhöhe Hospital, D-14089 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Girke
mesh_terms: D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D055048:Integrative Medicine; D007802:Language; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires