Subjective recovery accounts of Japanese female patients suffering from alcohol use disorder. A phenomenological study.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the subjective recovery accounts of Japanese female patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and the factors that affect their recovery. Design and Methods: This qualitative study used a phenomenological design. A focus group with 10 Japanese participants was conducted. Findings: Five theme clusters emerged: drinking to forget unpleasant feelings, fighting compulsive cravings with craving, unhealed wounds from past traumatic experiences, encounters with role models in self‐help groups, and changing one's mindset to a proactive pursuit of happiness. Practice Implications: To support the recovery of women with AUD, psychiatric nurses should help them improve their family relationships, find recovery models, and proactively provide them with trauma‐informed care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]