Mood instability and mental health service use in autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a natural language processing analysis of CRIS electronic healthcare records from 21 906 children and adolescents - Report - MDSpire

Mood instability and mental health service use in autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a natural language processing analysis of CRIS electronic healthcare records from 21 906 children and adolescents

  • By

  • Asilay Seker

  • Seungyoung Kim

  • Susie Chandler

  • Craig Colling

  • Rashmi Patel

  • Edmund Sonuga-Barke

  • Johnny Downs

  • June 18, 2026

  • 0 min

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Clinical Report: Mood Instability and Mental Health Service Utilization in Youth

Overview

This study examines the association between mood instability and mental health service utilization in children and young people (CYP) with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Findings indicate that mood instability is linked to increased annual CAMHS use, particularly in the ADHD group.

Background

Children and young people with neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASD and ADHD often have significant mental health service needs. Mood instability is a common symptom that can complicate treatment and service utilization.

Data Highlights

GroupAdjusted Incidence Rate Ratio (aIRR)Time to Discharge (aTR)
ASD1.24 (95% CI 1.08 to 1.42)-
ADHD1.47 (95% CI 1.30 to 1.67)0.76 (95% CI 0.69 to 0.84)
ASD+ADHD1.27 (95% CI 1.12 to 1.44)-
ADHD (no medication)1.67 (95% CI 1.47 to 1.89)0.70 (95% CI 0.61 to 0.79)

Key Findings

  • Mood instability is associated with increased annual CAMHS use in CYP with ASD and ADHD.
  • The effect of mood instability on CAMHS utilization is most pronounced in the ADHD-only group.
  • Mood instability is linked to reduced time to discharge in the ADHD group.
  • Associations between mood instability and service use are stronger in CYP not receiving ADHD medication.
  • Natural language processing (NLP) effectively identifies mood instability in electronic health records.

Clinical Implications

Clinicians should assess mood instability in CYP with neurodevelopmental conditions.

Conclusion

Mood instability significantly impacts mental health service utilization in CYP with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Related Resources & Content

  1. npj Digital Medicine, 2026 -- Assessing Youth Mental Health Needs Through an Adaptive Digital Tool
  2. JMIR Medical Informatics, 2026 -- Mining and Mapping 25 Years of Medication Use in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
  3. DIGITAL HEALTH, 2026 -- Exploring barriers and enablers to implementing a digital mental health crisis risk mitigation pathway
  4. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2026 -- Brief report: joint trajectories of anxiety and depression symptoms in an inception cohort of autistic youth
  5. NICE, 2024 -- Overview | Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management
  6. Irritability in Youths: A Critical Integrative Review - PMC, 2024
  7. Racial and Ethnic Differences in Mental Health Service Use Among Adolescents - PMC, 2025
  8. Overview | Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management | Guidance | NICE
  9. Irritability in Youths: A Critical Integrative Review - PMC
  10. Racial and Ethnic Differences in Mental Health Service Use Among Adolescents - PMC

Original Source(s)

Mood instability and mental health service use in autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a natural language processing analysis of CRIS electronic healthcare records from 21 906 children and adolescents

  • by Asilay Seker, Seungyoung Kim, Susie Chandler, Craig Colling, Rashmi Patel, Edmund Sonuga-Barke, Johnny Downs

  • June 18, 2026

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