Mental health-related hospitalizations among adolescents and emerging adults with autism in the United States: A retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of national hospital discharge data.

This study looked at mental health hospital stays for autistic teenagers and young adults in the US. It found that autistic young people are much more likely to be hospitalized for mental health problems like depression and behavioral issues than other young people. These hospital stays cost an average of $7,401 each and totaled $106 million in 2016. The researchers say we need better mental health support in the community to help autistic young people before they need hospitalization.

This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed national hospital discharge data to examine mental health-related hospitalizations among autistic adolescents and emerging adults (ages 10-20) in the United States. The research found that autistic young people were hospitalized primarily for neurodevelopmental, disruptive, depressive, and bipolar disorders. These hospitalizations averaged $7,401.23 per stay, totaling $106 million in 2016. Compared to controls, autistic youth were 11 times more likely to be hospitalized for mental health reasons than those with other complex chronic conditions, and twice as likely as those without chronic conditions.

The findings highlight significant disparities in mental health outcomes and suggest an urgent need for improved community-based mental health services for autistic young people.

Results indicate urgent need for enhanced community-based mental health services for autistic youth to prevent costly hospitalizations. Early identification and treatment of depression, bipolar disorder, and behavioral issues should be prioritized. Healthcare systems should develop autism-specific mental health pathways and ensure adequate funding for preventive community interventions.

Sample size not reported, limiting assessment of study power. Retrospective design prevents causal inferences. Cross-sectional analysis provides snapshot rather than longitudinal trends. Reliance on discharge data may miss diagnostic nuances and doesn't capture community-based interventions that prevented hospitalization.

Autistic young people are more likely to have mental health conditions, like depression and bipolar disorder, than people without autism. These mental health issues sometimes lead to hospitalizations, which can be expensive and traumatic. Because of this, we wanted to understand mental health-related hospitalizations among autistic young people aged 10-20. We found that the main mental health reasons for the hospitalization of autistic young people were neurodevelopmental, disruptive, depressive, and bipolar disorders.

These hospitalizations cost an average of US$7401.23 per stay, for a total of US$106 million in service delivery costs in 2016. Mental health-related hospitalizations were compared between young people with autism, young people with complex and chronic conditions, and young people with no chronic conditions. Autistic young people were almost 11 times more likely to be hospitalized for mental health reasons than young people with complex and chronic conditions, and two times more likely than young people with no complex and chronic conditions. We believe the United States needs better community-based mental health care for young people with autism.