Contrary to our hypothesis, taking medication (EA male: medication for sleep and other, AA female: medication for depression) predicted maintenance of AUD state. Evidence indicates that individuals suffering from comorbidity of other disorders will be disadvantaged in dealing with the physical and psychological processes that accompany withdrawal from addiction59. Specifically, alcohol and sleep disturbances have complex mutual relationships as alcohol is used by more than one in ten individuals as a hypnotic agent to self-medicate sleep problems60., thus increasing the likelihood of developing alcohol problems61. Moreover, studies show that sleep disturbances are extremely common during withdrawal from alcohol dependence and may persist for several months despite continued abstinence62, and hence may interfere with remission and contribute to relapse63. Contrary to our hypothesis, results showed that marriage and employment status predicted maintenance of the AUD state. Marriage and employment may add additional stressors to the alcoholic’s state of mind that precludes seeking help. Co-workers, spouses, and other family members often experience many tensions and heightened emotional distress caused by the negative consequences of living and working with a person with AUD64
