ABSTRACT
This (second) chapter o f the book presents clinical information on SMI, i.e. major mood disorders and schizophrenia-related disorders, in order to ground an under standing of approaches to PCC for people with SMI in current biopsychosocial clinical evidence. Such grounding is important for a feasible and practical PCC. For instance, it is important to recognize cognitive impairments that commonly afflict individuals with schizophrenia and which pose ethical and other challenges to PCC for these individuals, as discussed and illustrated in chapters 1 (Framework), 5 (The Person/Patient-Provider/Clinician Relationship) and 6 (Management and Finding Common Ground) of this book. It is also important to recognize oppor tunities that PCC raises for people with SMI, such as addressing stigma and other environmental as well as personal barriers, which impact on course and outcome of SMI, as discussed and illustrated in chapters 4 (Understanding the Context o f the Individual) and 7 (Prevention and Health Promotion). Thus, some o f the clinical facts presented in this chapter constrain PCC, yet PCC in its turn may transform clinical facts for the better if PCC for people with SMI is pursued systematically and persistently.
