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Sep 26, 2022

About me

MD PhD FRCPsych FRCP FRCPE, is a consultant psychiatrist at Landspítali – The National University Hospital of Iceland. He graduated in medicine from The University of Iceland, completed his training in adult psychiatry from the Maudsley & Bethlem Hospitals in London and did a PhD in psychopharmacology from the Institute of Psychiatry, University of London. Páll has been director of Mental Health Services at Landspitali, CEO / Director of Landspitali and honorary senior lecturer at The University of Iceland. Currently he leads psychiatric emergency and liaison services at Landspítali and chairs Geðráð – Iceland´s mental health board. His research interests include treatment-resistant schizophrenia, reducing coercion in psychiatry, burn-out and resilience.


Image by Ólöf Björnsdóttir.

View all my articles (16)

Jun 1, 2026 ∙ 8 min
Ways to reduce stigma: individual placement and support – collaboration with the world of theatre
Interview with Mr. Hlynur Jónasson, supported employment and creative arts director at Landspítali.
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Jun 1, 2026 ∙ 20 min
The challenge of stigma: lessons from Sir Graham Thornicroft
Few psychiatrists have contributed as much to our understanding of mental health stigma as Sir Graham Thornicroft. Over several decades, he has combined clinical experience, academic research, and international advocacy to explore how stigma affects people living with mental health conditions and to identify effective ways of reducing discrimination. As author of Shunned and co-chair of the landmark Lancet Commission on Ending Stigma and Discrimination in Mental Health, Thornicroft has (...)
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Jun 1, 2026 ∙ 7 min
Fighting stigma: interview with Grímur Atlason, CEO of Geðhjálp (Icelandic mental health alliance)
Public attitudes towards mental illness have changed significantly in recent decades, yet stigma remains a major barrier to inclusion, recovery, and equal opportunities for many people living with mental health conditions. In Iceland, the user-led organisation Geðhjálp (The Icelandic Mental Health Alliance) has taken an active role in measuring and challenging stigma through recurring national surveys, public discussions, and educational initiatives.
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Jun 16, 2025 ∙ 10 min
Lost in translation? Speech processing in psychiatry
Interview with dr. Jón Guðnason, Professor of Engineering at Reykjavik University, specializing in speech signal processing and language technology.
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Jun 9, 2025 ∙ 4 min
Lost in translation? A hospital-wide communication compact
When things get lost in translation, there is a breakdown of communication. This is a major problem in healthcare, where it is literally vital that people can communicate their ailments clearly. I was the CEO of Landspítali, the national hospital of Iceland, for over 8 years and one of the hardest parts of my job was to learn about serious adverse events in our service, and reviewing their causes. Even if we as a hospital prided ourselves on a safety culture, it was still a fact that we had...
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Jun 5, 2025 ∙ 7 min
Lost in translation. Up to 90% of communication is at times non-verbal!
Interview with Svandís Svavarsdóttir, Icelandic scholar and politician.
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Dec 1, 2024 ∙ 7 min
A week in psychiatry with Páll Matthíasson
This time, Páll Matthíasson gladly agreed to describe his work week.
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Nov 8, 2024 ∙ 6 min
Surviving death in psychiatry
Interview with dr. Ferdinand Jónsson, an Icelandic psychiatrist and well-known poet.
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Jun 6, 2024 ∙ 8 min
Uncertainty and forensic psychiatry
Interview with Andrew Forrester, professor of forensic psychiatry at Cardiff University.
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Jun 1, 2024 ∙ 5 min
Death´s uncertain hour – a psychiatrist´s reflection on uncertainty
If anything is certain, it is the fact that our physical and mental reality is surrounded by layers of uncertainty. Just think about the...
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May 26, 2024 ∙ 10 min
Mental health, uncertainty, diagnosis and more!
Interview with Héðinn Unnsteinsson, policy analyst.
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Dec 1, 2023 ∙ 15 min
Interview with Lade Smith CBE, President of the RCPsych
The Royal College of Psychiatrists is the main professional organisation of psychiatrists in the United Kingdom and is responsible for...
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Nov 27, 2023 ∙ 5 min
Interview with Dr. Joao Grenho, Secretary General of UEMS and Head of EACCME
Continuous medical education and continuous professional development are cornerstones of the professionalism of doctors. The Nordic...
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Nov 16, 2023 ∙ 8 min
The psychiatrist as a health advocate
Interview with psychiatrist Dr. Ólafur Þór Ævarsson.
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May 27, 2023 ∙ 8 min
A reflection on money, happiness and mental health!
Many years ago, during my training as a psychiatrist, I had the luxury of access to one of the largest psychiatric libraries in the world...
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Nov 30, 2022 ∙ 9 min
The importance of perinatal psychiatry
Interview with Professor Carmine Pariante.
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Páll Matthíasson

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