HealthDay (4/16, Preidt) reported that while “depression, stress and exhaustion are known to increase heart attack risk,” research suggests individuals “who’ve already had a heart attack may not be getting the treatment they need for these conditions.” Investigators came to this conclusion after studying “more than 800 people younger than 75,” all of whom had experienced a heart attack. The findings were presented at the European Society of Cardiology meeting.

Related Links:

— “http://consumer.healthday.com/cardiovascular-health-information-20/heart-attack-news-357/heart-attack-patients-have-worse-mental-health-709968.html,” Robert Preidt, HealthDay, April 16, 2016.

HealthDay (4/15, Preidt) reported, “Depression and suicidal thoughts or attempts are common among youth who join gangs, and these problems get worse after they join,” the findings of a study published online April 13 in Criminal Justice and Behavior suggest. After analyzing “data from more than 11,000 students in middle schools and high schools across” the US, researchers “found that gang membership was associated with greater levels of depression, a 67 percent increase in suicidal thoughts, and a 104 percent increase in suicide attempts.”

Related Links:

— “Depression More Common in Kids Who Join Gangs, Study Finds,” Robert Preidt, HealthDay, April 15, 2016.

The Huntington (WV) Herald-Dispatch (4/17, Stuck) reports that eight years ago, Josh Parker, a physician at Prestera Center “decided to try something different and add a service to the center’s addiction treatment options – medication-assisted treatment.” At the time, there was little research to support “medication-assisted treatment, or MAT, other than for methadone, but Prestera began a pilot program with a group of women in the Renaissance program using Suboxone [buprenorphine/naloxone].” Today, there is growing evidence that “MAT can be an effective treatment for substance use disorders if done properly, which includes counseling and behavioral therapy.”

Related Links:

— “Medication-assisted treatment on the rise,” Taylor Stuck, Huntington (WV) Herald-Dispatch, April 20, 2016.

The Washington Post (4/14, Frankel) reports four former US surgeon generals on Thursday criticized the ban on “federal funding for gun violence research,” and called on Congress to end it. Regina Benjamin, Joycelyn Elders, and David Satcher, who were appointed by a Democrat, wrote to Congress, “It is only through research that we can begin to address this menace to our nation’s public health.” In his own letter, Richard Carmona, who was appointed by a Republican, argued that “without appropriate research ‘we really have no idea what policies and/or regulation may be needed in order to ensure the public’s safety.’”

Related Links:

— “Last four surgeons general call on CDC to resume gun violence studies,” Todd C. Frankel, Washington Post, April 14, 2016.

In an 1,100-word piece, the Washington Post (4/14, Itkowitz) reports, “An estimated 70 percent of kids that cycle through the juvenile justice systems have a mental health condition, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness [NAMI],” and approximately half of all youngsters “with a mental illness didn’t receive any treatment the year prior.”

Related Links:

— “His mom publicly compared him to killer Adam Lanza. Now the teen is opening up about his bipolar disorder.,” Colby Itkowitz, Washington Post, April 14, 2016.

The Boston Globe (4/13, Teitell) reports that over the next 10 years, some “500,000 young adults with autism will age out of publicly funded day and residential special-education programs nationwide, according to a Drexel University researcher.” According to the Globe, the 22nd birthday “is…a significant milestone for individuals with autism and other disabilities,” and Massachusetts offers “a state program called ‘Turning 22’ that helps families transition into the adult service system.”

Related Links:

— “For parents of autistic kids, 22nd birthday often arrives with dread,” Beth Teitell, Boston Globe, April , 2016.13

HealthDay (4/13, Preidt) reports that a study published April 12 in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease reveals that Alzheimer’s disease affects visual perception, particularly the “ability to recognize faces.” What’s more, problems with visual perception appear to occur “in the early stages of the disease.”

Related Links:

— “Alzheimer’s Can Steal Ability to Know Loved Ones’ Faces,” Robert Preidt, HealthDay, April 13, 2016.

Kaiser Health News (4/12, Andrews) addresses reader questions about insurance coverage for mental health. In response to a question about copays for counselor visits, the article explains the consensus was that a plan could not charge a higher copayment than it does for two-thirds of other medical services.

Related Links:

— “Even Under Parity Rules, Plans May Charge Higher Specialty Copays For Counseling,” Michelle Andrews, Kaiser Health News, April 12, 2016.

HealthDay (4/12, Reinberg) reports that a study recently published in Alcoholism Clinical & Experimental Research found that teenage girls in the US now try alcohol at a younger age than boys. The research found that among 390,000 young Americans aged 12 to 24, more girls tried alcohol as teenagers than boys. After age 19 however, males consumed more alcohol. But, HealthDay reports, “a 2015 report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found adult women are catching up to men when it comes to using and abusing alcohol.”

Related Links:

— “Teenage Girls Now Try Alcohol Before Boys Do: Study,” Steven Reinberg, HealthDay, April 12, 2016.

The Oklahoman (4/13) reports Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said at a healthcare journalism conference, “We find that our prisons are filled with people who need help, who need treatment, and aren’t able to get the kind of support and treatment that they need because they were incarcerated instead of being connected to treatment.” The Oklahoman reports that Murthy often travels around the country speaking about the need for the US to do more to help people struggling with addiction and mental illness.

Related Links:

— “Surgeon General Vivek Murthy: ‘Our prisons are filled with people who need help’,” Jaclyn Cosgrove, The Oklahoman, April 11, 2016.