Assessing Holistic Health Interventions and Approaches for Individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD): Protocol for a Scoping Review

Introduction: Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a complex condition that requires a multidisciplinary approach to treatment. A comprehensive plan must address the physical, emotional, and mental health of the individual, which is where holistic health comes into play. Holistic health is a system of wellness that considers the whole person — body, mind, and spirit — and aims to restore balance and well-being through the combination of physical, mental, and emotional care. This approach typically incorporates natural and alternative forms of treatment along with conventional medical treatment. In recent years, there has been growing interest in integrating holistic health strategies into addiction treatment. The primary aim of this scoping review is to identify and characterize holistic health interventions currently implemented in the treatment for individuals with AUD. A secondary aim of this review is to collate the efficacy of the interventions as a treatment modality for people with AUD. Additionally, this review will identify gaps in the literature and suggest potential areas for future research. Methods and Analysis: The review will adhere to the Arksey and O'Malley methodological guidelines for scoping reviews. Published research and pilot clinical trials that report on the utilization of holistic health interventions in AUD will be the focus of the search strategy. A total of 5 databases were searched: PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Scopus. After screening, data will be extracted and synthesized from the included studies according to the guidelines developed in this protocol. There will be no date restrictions used in the search. There is a language restriction of only articles published in English. To be included in the study, at least one type of a holistic intervention treatment (e.g., meditation, homeopathy, special diets, etc.) must have been employed. Excluded from the review will be any population that does not have hazardous drinking behaviors as associated with AUD, as well as any pharmaceutical interventions that are not coupled with a holistic intervention. The review itself will be an iterative process completed by two reviewers, and tie breakers will be done through discussions between the two reviewers to come to a unanimous consensus. Documents will be undergoing a risk assessment of bias for the authors to comment on the quality of the literature in this area. Finally, results will be discussed with all coauthors. Ethics and Dissemination: This review will provide an overview of holistic therapies and interventions used to treat AUD, aiming to clarify their roles and effectiveness to support recovery. This review seeks to identify gaps in the literature and will recommend areas for additional research by identifying the strategies currently in use. The results of this review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and made accessible to a general audience. No ethical approval is needed because this is a scoping review of the material that is already accessible.