John J. Mariani, MD

  • Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry
Profile Headshot

Overview

Dr. John Mariani is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University and a Research Psychiatrist at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. After receiving his medical degree from the New York University School of Medicine and completing his psychiatry residency at the Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City, where he served as Chief Resident, Dr. Mariani began a two-year addiction psychiatry research fellowship at Columbia University. In 2005, he joined the faculty of the Division on Substance Abuse as a Research Psychiatrist. Under the mentorship of Dr. Frances Levin, he has remained active in clinical research and is the recipient of a K-23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Currently, Dr. Mariani is the Director of Columbia University’s Substance Treatment and Research Service (STARS). His research has primarily focused on investigating novel pharmacotherapies for addictive disorders.

Areas of Expertise / Conditions Treated

  • Alcoholism
  • Psychiatric Disorders
  • Psychopharmacology
  • Psychotherapy
  • Substance Use

Academic Appointments

  • Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry

Administrative Titles

  • Director, Substance Treatment and Research Service

Gender

  • Male

Credentials & Experience

Education & Training

  • MD, 1993 Medicine, New York University School of Medicine
  • Internship: 1994 Mount Sinai Medical Center
  • Residency: 2003 Beth Israel Medical Center, NY
  • Fellowship: 2005 NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center

Research

Development of novel pharmacotherapies for substance use disorders.

Dr. Mariani is the principal investigator (PI) of a NIDA-funded R01,"Quetiapine Pharmacotherapy for Cannabis Dependence". The goal of this double-blind study is to study the effects of quetiapine on cannabis dependence, the hypothesis being that the sedating, appetite stimulating and anxiolytic effects of quetiapine will reduce cannabis withdrawal symptoms. Dr. Mariani is also the principal investigator of NIAAA-funded R21 AA017691, "Gabapentin for Abstinence Initiation in Alcohol Dependence". The goal of this double-blind pilot project is to study the effects of gabapentin treatment of alcohol dependence in an abstinence-initiation model, where participants are actively using alcohol at study entry, and the change in use pattern from baseline is measured throughout the study period.

Research Interests

  • Psychiatry

Clinical Trials

Current clinical trials:

  • Gabapentin for Abstinence Initiation in Alcohol Dependence (GAINS). Learn more.
  • Quetiapine Pharmacotherapy for Cannabis Dependence. Learn more.

Selected Publications

  • Mariani JJ, Brooks D, Haney M, Levin FR. : Quantification and comparison of marijuana smoking practices: Blunts, joints, and pipes.. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 2010;DOI:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2010.08.008
  • Mariani JJ. Horey J. Bisaga A. Aharonovich E. Raby W. Cheng WY. Nunes E. Levin FR.: Antisocial behavioral syndromes in cocaine and cannabis dependence.. American Journal of Drug & Alcohol Abuse 2008;34(4): 405-414
  • Mariani JJ, Levin FR: Treatment Strategies for Co-Occurring ADHD and Substance Use Disorders. American Journal on Addictions 2006;16(supp. 1): 45-56
  • Mariani JJ, Rosenthal RN, Tross S, Singh P, Anand O: A Randomized Open-Label Controlled Trial of Gabapentin and Phenobarbital in the Treatment of Alcohol Withdrawal. American Journal on Addictions 2006;15(1): 76-84
  • Mariani JJ: Alcohol-Related Disorders. In Gabbard's Treatments of Psychiatric Disorders, Glen O. Gabbard, editor in chief.-4th edition., APA Psychiatric Publishing, Inc., Arlington, VI, US