Main Projects

Psychomotor slowing exerts massive negative impact on individuals with psychosis. Our pilot study suggested that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) could reduce slowing in patients. In a double-blind randomized controlled trial we are currently testing, which rTMS protocol might ameliorate psychomotor slowing in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The study tests the clinical, neurophysiological, and behavioral effects of 15 sessions rTMS treatment using repeated assessments with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), clinical rating scales, gait analysis, actigraphy, etc.

In order to test differences at baseline, the study also includes healthy control participants as well as patients with schizophrenia without psychomotor slowing.

Funding: Swiss National Science Foundation grant 182469  (03/2019 - 02/2023)

Principal investigator: Sebastian Walther

Main project staff: Niluja Nadesalingam (PhD student), Stephanie Lefebvre (Post doc), Alexandra Kyrou (psychiatry resident)

Supporting staff: Melanie Nouffer, Florian Wüthrich, Simona Leserri, Nicole Gangl, Evin Demir; past psychiatrists: Danai Alexaki, Daniel Baumann Gama

Collaborators: Prof. Roger Kalla, Neurology Bern, Prof. Andrea Federspiel, Bern, Prof. Jessica Bernard, Texas A&M University, Prof. Kim Do & Dr. Ines Khadimallah CHUV Lausanne

Pilot study: Walther et al. 2020 Schizophrenia Bulletin

Study Publications: Nadesalingam et al. 2022 Comprehensive Psychiatry

Most individuals with schizophrenia are severely impaired in using hand gestures during social interaction, which is problematic for social functioning. Specific trainings may improve gesture performance. Furthermore, our pilot study suggested that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) could improve gesture performance in patients. In a double-blind randomized controlled trial we are currently testing, whether a combination of group psychotherapy and concurrent rMTS might improve nonverbal communication skills in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The study tests the clinical, neurophysiological, and behavioral effects of 16 sessions of social cognitive remediation therapy and 10 sessions of rTMS treatment. We assess clinical rating scales, behavioral experiments, cognition, multimodal MRI, and multiple social functioning measures.

In order to test longitudinal changes in gesture and brain function, we also include a group of healthy control participants.

Funding: Swiss National Science Foundation grant 184717  (10/2019 - 09/2023)

Principal investigator: Sebastian Walther

Main project staff: Victoria Chapellier (PhD student), Anastasia Pavlidou (Post doc), Lydia Maderthaner (psychiatry resident), Sofie von Känel (research assistant)

Supporting staff: Florian Weiss, Nicole Gangl

Collaborators: Prof. Stephan Bohlhalter, Neurology Luzern, Prof. Andrea Federspiel, Bern, PD Daniel Müller, Bern

Pilot study: Walther et al. 2020 Schizophrenia Bulletin

Study Publications: 

• Pavlidou et al. 2022 Schizophrenia Research: Cognition
• Chapellier et al. 2022 Frontiers in Psychology
• Chapellier et al. 2022 Frontiers in Psychiatry
• Walther et al. 2020 Cortex

Psychomotor agitation and retardation are frequent symptoms in depression that indicate less favorable treatment outcomes. However, the neurobiology or longitudinal development of these psychomotor disturbances are widely unknown. This study seeks to investigate psychomotor phenomena in patients with current depression, individuals remitted from depression, and healthy controls using lab based measures of motor behavior, ambulatory assessments (smart phones, actigraphy), self-report, and multimodal brain imaging (MRI, EEG). Another aim of the study is to determine the longitudinal progression of psychomotor phenomena over two years and to investigate whether changes in psychomotor behavior may inform on the course of depression., e.g. the development of novel depressive episodes. Finally, the study could inform on the clinical utility of various measures of motor behavior, which could be blended into standard patient care.

Funding: National Institute of Mental Health R01 MH118741   (04/2019 - 03/2025)

Principal investigators: Stewart Shankman, Vijay Mittal, Sebastian Walther

Co-Investigators: Jessica Bernard, Alex Leow, Lea Welty

Host university: Northwestern University Chicago

Main project staff (Bern): Florian Wüthrich (PhD student)

Supporting staff (Bern): Stephanie Lefebvre

Study Publications: 

• Damme et al. 2021
• Damme et al. 2022
• Wüthrich et al. 2022
• Walther et al. 2022
• Letkiewicz et al. 2022
• Shankman et al. 2021
• Osborne et al. 2020
• Walther et al. 2019

Suicide attempts increase the risk of completed suicides. An effective short-term psychotherapy intervention – ASSIP – can reduce the risk of suicide by 80%. However, half of the subjects at risk refuse to seek help or stop treatment. The ASSIP home treatment project will provide suicide specific interventions in the home environment of individuals following suicide attempts in order to increase outreach and efficacy. Furthermore, the project aims to establish better care and involvement of significant others, e.g. family and friends, as well as other health care workers, e.g. general practitioners. ASSIP home treatment will be established in Bern, Zürich, Lausanne, and Neuchatel. The project will assess the efficacy of the intervention, the costs, and the feasibility. Furthermore, we will test clinical and neuropsychological correlates of suicidal ideation and the history of suicide attempts.

Funding: Swiss Health Promotion Foundation (12/2020 - 03/2025)

Principal investigators: Anja Gysin-Maillart, Sebastian Walther

Main project staff: Adriana Frei (PhD student)

Supporting staff: Cécile Furer, Elisabeth Albertson, Michèle Meier, Cedric Bryner

Collaborators: Sebastian Olbrich, Laurent Michaud, Stéphane Saillant, René Bridler

Pilot study: Gysin-Maillart et al. 2016 doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001968

Study publications: 

• Michel et al. 2021
• Gysin-Maillart et al. 2022