Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, and the Electronic Health Record: Innovations in Mental Health Services Research.

Journal: Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.)
Published Date:

Abstract

An unprecedented amount of clinical information is now available via electronic health records (EHRs). These massive data sets have stimulated opportunities to adapt computational approaches to track and identify target areas for quality improvement in mental health care. In this column, three key areas of EHR data science are described: EHR phenotyping, natural language processing, and predictive modeling. For each of these computational approaches, case examples are provided to illustrate their role in mental health services research. Together, adaptation of these methods underscores the need for standardization and transparency while recognizing the opportunities and challenges ahead.

Authors

  • Juliet Beni Edgcomb
    Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Edgcomb, Zima) and Center for Health Services and Society (Zima), University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles.
  • Bonnie Zima
    Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Edgcomb, Zima) and Center for Health Services and Society (Zima), University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles.