On the front of its Personal Journal section, the Wall Street Journal (4/15, D1, Reddy, Subscription Publication) reports in a 1,100-word article that researchers believe memory lapses may not necessarily represent the onset of Alzheimer’s or other memory conditions. According to the article, memory failure is most common when people do not activate it in the act of performing an action, or when they attempt to retrieve the memory in a different condition than they were in when they activated it. The Journal recommends paying attention when performing an action and committing it to memory to avoid this type of memory lapse.

Related Links:

— “Why We Keep Losing Our Keys,”Sumathi Reddi, The Wall Street Journal, April 14, 2014.

MedPage Today (4/15, Phend) reports that research published online in JAMA Internal Medicine suggests that “mental health assessment and care coordination by a social worker eased anxiety and depression after hospitalization for heart disease.” Investigators found that “mental health-related quality of life improvements were twice those achieved with usual care in patients with depression, anxiety, or panic after a hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, or arrhythmia (11.21 versus 5.68 points on the SF-12 Mental Component Score at 24 weeks, P=0.002).” The study indicated that “overall health-related quality of life improved as well with the low-intensity collaborative care intervention (P=0.03 versus usual care).” The study included 183 patients.

Related Links:

— “Cardiac Patients’ Mental Distress Eased With Care Coordination,”Crystal Phend, MedPage Today, April 14, 2014.

The New York Times (4/14, Carey, Subscription Publication) reports that last week, the American Association of Suicidology decided “to recognize a vast but historically invisible portion of its membership: people” who attempt suicide but survive. The piece notes that “plans for speakers bureaus of survivors willing to tell their stories are well underway, as is research to measure the effect of such testimony on audiences.” The Times explains that “for decades, mental health organizations have featured speakers with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression,” although “until now, suicide has been virtually taboo, because of not only shame and stigma, but also fears that talking about the act could give others ideas about how to do it.”

Related Links:

— “Suicide Prevention Sheds a Longstanding Taboo: Talking About Attempts,”Benedict Carey, The New York Times, April 13, 2014.

HealthDay (4/12, Preidt) reported that according to a study published April 7 in the journal Psychology of Violence, “domestic violence witnessed by American children often goes unreported or unpunished, but causes fear and anxiety among the youngsters.” The study “included 517 children, of whom 75 percent witnessed domestic violence.” Investigators found that “children came to physical harm in one in 75 incidents, but suffered fear and anxiety in many more cases.”

Related Links:

— “Study Outlines Emotional Impact of Domestic Violence on Kids,” Robert Preidt, HealthDay, April 11, 2014.

Reuters (4/11, Bond) reported that according to a study published online March 15 in the journal Addictive Behaviors, families in which the father had a problem with alcohol appeared to experience increased levels of conflict. However, treating men for alcoholism may result in an improved home life for their children. Researchers arrived at these conclusions after studying 145 couples in Massachusetts with children. Of those couples, 67 had a male partner who was undergoing alcoholism treatment.

Related Links:

— “Kids see less conflict at home when dads quit drinking,”Allison Bond, Reuters, April 11, 2014.