Limitations and suggestions for future research
This study had several limitations. First, we included a relatively small sample size. Given the high dropout rate of participants (due to relapse), there was a between-group difference in the sample size. This could undermine the generalizability of our findings. Second, we did not consider the influence of environmental factors, including the function of the participant’s family or differences in the surrounding environment. Third, we did not perform age- and gender-based comparisons. Finally, we only recruited participants from one research institute.Future large-scale studies with gender-based comparisons are warranted to confirm the effect of AT. Additionally, there is a need for active prospective studies on the effects of psychological health on physical health, post-discharge abstinence, stress coping style, and networking with organizations. The home support system or other social factors can also influence the outcomes; therefore, an appropriate experimental design is required to control for such variables. A comprehensive outlook and approach to AUD are required from multidisciplinary, with the inclusion of both treatment and rehabilitation.