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Journal of Integrative Medicine ›› 2016, Vol. 14 ›› Issue (5): 315-321.doi: 10.1016/S2095-4964(16)60264-9

• Review • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The questionnaire on autonomic regulation: A useful concept for integrative medicine?

Matthias Kröza,b,c,d, Marcus Reife, Danilo Prangaa, Roland Zerma,b, Friedemann Schada,b, Erik Wim Baarsf, Matthias Girkea,b   

  1. a Research Institute Havelhöhe, D-14089 Berlin, Germany
    b Department of Internal Medicine, Havelhöhe Hospital, D-14089 Berlin, Germany 
    c Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, D-10117 Berlin, Germany
    d Institute for Integrative Medicine, University of Witten/Herdecke, D-58313 Witten/Herdecke, Germany
    e Society for Clinical Research, D-10623 Berlin, Germany
    f Professorship Anthroposophic Healthcare, University of Applied Sciences Leiden, NL-2300 AJ Leiden, the Netherlands
  • Received:2016-03-01 Accepted:2016-05-19 Online:2016-09-15 Published:2016-09-15
  • Contact: Matthias Kröz, MD; E-mail: mkroez@havelhoehe.de

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.

Key words: Anthroposophic medicine, Autonomic regulation, Delivery of health care, Integrative medicine, Questionnaire

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