Faculty

Robert H Howland, MD

Associate Professor of Psychiatry

Contact Details

3811 O'Hara St.
Pittsburgh
 
PA
 
15213
Email
Assistant
Crystal Spotts
SpottsCR@upmc.edu

Education & Training

MD
University of Minnesota, School of Medicine
General Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC
Clinical Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Specialty Certifications

Board Certification
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (Geriatric Psychiatry)

Professional Affiliations

Distinguished Fellow, American Psychiatric Association
Member, American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry
Member, American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology
Member, American Medical Association
Member, Society of Biological Psychiatry
Member, Committee on Publication Ethics

Selected Honors & Awards

Distinguished Fellow, American Psychiatric Association
Marie H. Eldredge Award, American Psychiatric Association
New Investigator Award, National Institute of Mental Health New Clinical Drug Evaluation Unit
NARSAD Young Investigator Award, Brain & Behavior Research Foundation

Research Interests

Neuromodulation therapies in psychiatry; Novel psychopharmacological therapies
Selected Research Publications & Products
  1. Leuchter AF, Cook IA, Feifel D, Goethe JW, Husain M, Carpenter LL, Thase ME, Krystal AD, Philip NS, Bhati MT, Burke WJ, Howland RH, Sheline YI, Aaronson ST, Iosifescu DV, OReardon JP, Gilmer WS, Jain R, Burgoyne KS, Phillips B, Manberg PJ, Massaro J, Hunter AM, Lisanby SH, George MS. Efficacy and safety of low-field synchronized transcranial magnetic stimulation (sTMS) for treatment of major depression. Brain Stimul. 2015;8(4):787-794. PMID: 26143022.
  2. Dougherty DD, Rezai AR, Carpenter LL, Howland RH, Bhati MT, OReardon JP, Eskandar EN, Baltuch GH, Machado AD, Kondziolka D, Cusin C, Evans KC, Price LH, Jacobs K, Pandya M, Denko T, Tyrka AR, Brelje T, Deckersbach T, Kubu C, Malone DA. A Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial of Deep Brain Stimulation of the Ventral Capsule/Ventral Striatum for Chronic Treatment-Resistant Depression. Biol Psychiatry. 2015;78(4):240-248. PMID: 25726497.
  3. Rush AJ, Marangell LB, Sackeim HA, George MS, Brannan SK, Davis SM, Howland R, Kling MA, Rittberg BR, Burke WJ, Rapaport MH, Zajecka J, Nierenberg AA, Husain MM, Ginsberg D, Cooke RG. Vagus Nerve Stimulation for treatment-resistant depression: A randomized, controlled acute phase trial. Biol Psychiatry. 2005;58(5):347-354. PMID: 16139580.
  4. Howland RH. A benefit-risk assessment of agomelatine in the treatment of depression. Drug Saf. 2011;34(9):709-731. PMID: 21830835.
  5. Howland RH, Rush AJ, Wisniewski SR, Trivedi MH, Fava M, Davis LL, McGrath PJ, Balasubramani GK. Concurrent anxiety and substance use disorders among outpatients with major depression: Clinical features and effect on treatment outcome. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2009;99(1-3):248-260. PMID: 18986774.

Clinical Interests

Clinical psychopharmacology; Adult mood and anxiety disorders; Geriatric psychiatry
Selected Clinical Publications & Products
  1. Howland RH. Pharmacology of dementing disorders (Chapter 16). In: CA Noggle, RS Dean (Eds.) Neuropsychology of Cortical Dementias. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company, 2015, Chapter 16, pp. 367-384.
  2. Howland RH. Vagus nerve stimulation. Curr Behav Neurosci Rep. 2014;1(2):64-73. PMID: 24834378.
  3. Howland RH, Schettler PJ, Rapaport MH, Mischoulon D, Schneider T, Fasiczka A, Delrahiem K, Maddux R, Lightfoot M, Nierenberg AA. Clinical features and functioning of patients with minor depression. Psychother Psychosom, 2008;77:384-389. PMID: 18716424.
  4. Howland RH. Pharmacotherapy of dysthymia: A review. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 1991;11(2):83-92. PMID: 2056146.
  5. Howland RH. Thyroid dysfunction in refractory depression: Implications for pathophysiology and treatment. J Clin Psychiatry. 1993;54(2):47-54. PMID: 8444820.

Education Interests

Medical student & resident education; Contnuing education for community physicians
Selected Education Publications & Products
  1. Howland RH. Do psychiatric medications cause more harm than good? J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2015;53(7):15-19. PMID: 26182207.
  2. Orr DG, Glick ID, Adler L, Cohen L, Ellison J, Gaynes G, Howland R, Macaluso M, Raedler T. A Model Curriculum for Teaching Psychopharmacology to Primary Care Residents and Clinicians, 2nd Edition, The Primary Care Curriculum Committee; American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacolgy, Inc.; 2015.
  3. Pharmacogenetic testing in psychiatry: Not (quite) ready for primetime. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv. 2014;52(11):13-16. PMID: 25375387.
  4. Howland RH. Therapeutic armamentarium for treating depression. Postgrad Med. 2010;122(4):66-93. PMID: 20675972.
  5. Howland RH, Shutt LS, Berman SR, Spotts CR, Denko T. The emerging use of technology for the treatment of depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Ann Clin Psychiatry. 2011;23(1):48-62. PMID: 21318196.

Molecular Psychiatry: Improved Implicit Self-Esteem Is Associated With Extended Antidepressant Effects Following a Novel Synergistic Intervention

Dr. Eken and Dr. Price

The most effective treatments for depression include pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, but a pressing need remains for rapid, efficacious treatments. While the administration of ketamine can reduce depressive symptoms within two to 24 hours, these effects dissipate in a brief period following a single infusion. Rebecca Price, PhD (Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology), and colleagues wanted to see...

Robert Howland, MD, Recognized for Excellence in Patient Experience

Dr. Robert Howland

Congratulations to Robert Howland, MD (Associate Professor of Psychiatry), who has been recognized with a 2023 Excellence in Patient Experience Award. Dr. Howland was honored at the 2023 Loren Roth Quality and Patient Safety Awards Celebration. The awards are based on patient ratings and are presented to top UPMC providers in recognition of their dedication to the population they serve and their compassionate care...

A Novel, Brief, Fully Automated Intervention to Extend the Antidepressant Effect of a Single Ketamine Infusion: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Dr. Rebecca Price

Depression is one of the most prevalent and costly mental health conditions. Though effective treatments have been available for decades, remission rates are low, relapse rates are high, and disorder prevalence rates remain notably consistent or increased, with only 12.7% of patients receiving minimally adequate treatment. In recent years, two potential breakthroughs have ignited hopes for turning a corner in the...