Antoine Urech

Dr. Antoine Urech


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

7Years (2020-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

View All Publications
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
AUAntoine Urech
Antoine Urech
TKTobias Krieger
Tobias Krieger
EFEveline Frischknecht
Eveline Frischknecht
FSFranziska Stalder-Lüthy
Franziska Stalder-Lüthy
MHMartin gosse Holtforth
Martin gosse Holtforth
HHHelene Hofer
Helene Hofer
Adjustment disorders (AjD) with depressive symptoms following an acquired brain injury (ABI) is a common phenomenon. Although brain injuries are increasing more and more, research on psychological therapies is comparably scarce. The present study compared, by means of a randomized controlled trial (RCT), a newly developed integrative treatment (Standard PLUS) to a standard neuropsychological treatment (Standard). Primary outcomes were depressive symptoms assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) at post-treatment and 6-month follow-up assessment. In total, 25 patients (80% after a stroke) were randomized to one of the two conditions. Intention-to-treat analyses showed that the two groups did not significantly differ either at post-treatment nor at follow-up assessment regarding depressive symptoms. Both treatments showed large within-group effect sizes on depressive symptoms. Regarding secondary outcomes, patients in the Standard PLUS condition reported more emotion regulation skills at post-assessment than in the control condition. However, this difference was not present anymore at follow-up assessment. Both treatments showed medium to large within-group effects sizes on most measures for patients suffering from an AjD after ABI. More research with larger samples is needed to investigate who profits from which intervention.

19 February 2023 in Diagnostics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
PPPolina Pchelina
Polina Pchelina
SDSimone B. Duss
Simone B. Duss
CBCorrado Bernasconi
Corrado Bernasconi
TBThomas Berger
Thomas Berger
TKTobias Krieger
Tobias Krieger
AUAntoine Urech
Antoine Urech
Understanding which factors predict the outcome of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (iCBT-I) may help to tailor this intervention to the patient’s needs. We have conducted a secondary analysis of a randomized, controlled trial comparing a multicomponent iCBT-I (MCT) and an online sleep restriction therapy (SRT) for 83 chronic insomnia patients. The difference in the Insomnia Severity Index from pre- to post-treatment and from pre-treatment to follow-up at 6 months after treatment was the dependent variable. Prognostic and treatment-predictive factors assessed at baseline were analyzed with multiple linear regression. The shorter duration of insomnia, female gender, high health-related quality of life, and the higher total number of clicks had prognostic value for a better outcome. Other factors were found to be prognostic for outcome at the follow-up assessment: treatment with benzodiazepines, sleep quality, and personal significance of sleep problems. A high level of dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep (DBAS) was a moderator for better effects in the MCT at post-treatment assessment. Various prognostic factors (e.g., duration of insomnia, gender, or quality of life) may influence the success of treatment. The DBAS scale may be recommended to select patients for MCT rather than SRT.

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
DSDaniel Schmid
Daniel Schmid
SDSimone B. Duss
Simone B. Duss
EHElisabeth Hertenstein
Elisabeth Hertenstein
Christoph NissenChristoph Nissen
Christoph Nissen
CSCarlotta L. Schneider
Carlotta L. Schneider
TBThomas Berger
Thomas Berger
Insomnia is characterized by frequent and persistent difficulties initiating and maintaining sleep, along with impaired daytime functioning. Blended treatments are increasingly popular for treating psychological disorders such as depression. Blended treatments combine elements of face-to-face therapy and online interventions. A single-arm pre-post study investigated the feasibility of a blended treatment combining face-to-face cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia and internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (SLEEPexpert+). The findings show that the therapists have a positive attitude toward blended CBT-I (b-CBT-I) and that they feel supported by the online components of the treatment. Possible barriers to implementing blended treatments are integrating the online materials into the face-to-face sessions and adapting one’s therapeutic style to the blended treatment approach. No definitive statements about the effectiveness of the b-CBT-I treatment can be made. However, of the six presented cases, five patients showed notably higher sleep efficiency and fewer insomnia symptoms at the end of the therapy. Program usage data indicate that participants mainly used the online components at the beginning of their treatment. Future studies should investigate the effectiveness of b-CBT-I with a sufficiently powered randomized controlled trial comparing b-CBT-I with an adequate control group in routine care.

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
SDSimone B. Duss
Simone B. Duss
AVAlbrecht Vorster
Albrecht Vorster
AUAntoine Urech
Antoine Urech
WSWolfgang J. Schmitt
Wolfgang J. Schmitt
JBJonas Beck
Jonas Beck
Claudio L.A. BassettiClaudio L.A. Bassetti
Claudio L.A. Bassetti
Sleep is essential for health, well-being, creativity, and productivity. Sleep loss and sleep–wake circadian disorders (SWCDs) affect at least one in three individuals but are underdiagnosed and undertreated for different reasons: First, the importance of sleep health and, second, the burden of sleep loss and SWCDs are underestimated. Third, education in sleep medicine is insufficient and health care-related sleep research is underdeveloped. Fourth, the validation and implementation of tele-sleep medicine approaches and novel devices to monitor SWCDs are still insufficient. Fifth, the reimbursement of sleep medicine in most countries is inadequate and the availability of specialized care is limited to a few centers. The Swiss Sleep House Bern (SSHB) was founded in 2022 to address these challenges and eventually promote better care for patients with SWCDs and improve sleep health for the broader population. The interdisciplinary and interprofessional team of the SSHB, which is integrated in the Bernese Interdisciplinary Sleep-Wake-Epilepsy Center, links sleep specialists with primary care providers to offer a rapid and accessible triage and first-level management of sleep complaints and SWCDs. The SSHB also promotes awareness and offers educational programs on sleep health and SWCDs, performs health care research, and fosters the implementation of new technologies, data science, and telemedicine into clinical routine.

30 December 2025 in Trials
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
EPElena Pavicic
Elena Pavicic
PSPetra Stute
Petra Stute
FRFranziska Rudzik
Franziska Rudzik
AUAntoine Urech
Antoine Urech
SLSerena Lozza-Fiacco
Serena Lozza-Fiacco
Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) will be compared with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and sleep hygiene (active control treatment). The