Dr Jo Howe is a chartered psychologist and academic researcher specialising in psychopharmacology. Her work focuses on the physical health impacts of psychotropic medications, particularly antipsychotics, and their association with weight gain and metabolic disorders in people with serious mental illness (SMI). She has led and contributed to major research projects investigating strategies to mitigate medication-induced weight gain, including the development of a preventative antipsychotic weight management pathway.
Dr Howe is actively working with healthcare organisations in the UK and internationally to implement this pathway, supporting healthcare professionals in integrating preventative strategies into routine mental health care. This work involves collaboration with NHS Trusts, primary care providers, and third-sector organisations to improve clinical pathways, enhance training for mental health practitioners, and drive policy change.
She is also the Director of The Realist Hub, where she provides training and consultancy on realist research methods, supporting researchers in evaluating complex health interventions.
