Hospice and palliative care for terminally ill individuals with serious and persistent mental illness: widening the horizons

Terminally ill individuals with serious and persistent mental illness (SPMI) are currently underserved by palliative care. However, palliative care nurses can expect to see more patients with SPMI because an estimated 6% of the adult population has chronic mental illness, and mortality and morbidity rates are higher in this group. Reasons for these increased rates are discussed. Literature regarding the provision of palliative care to those with SPMI is sparse, but what literature there is does offer suggestions for improvements in clinical practice. These suggestions for improvement are explored, and conclusions are drawn about the need for future research.