ABSTRACT
According to population projections, Hispanic/Latino individuals will comprise 25% of the total United States population by 2050.1 Given that the Hispanic/Latino population has become one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in the United States, clinicians are even more likely to treat people of Hispanic/Latino origin than they were in previous decades. Due in part to these changing demographics, it is crucial that mental health professionals are informed in the ways cultural issues can affect the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of Hispanic/Latino clients. Although the overall rates of most psychiatric disorders in Hispanic/Latinos people are generally similar to those of non-Hispanic/Latino Caucasian populations,2,3 the underlying causal mechanisms may differ between these groups. There are a number of factors that may place Hispanic/Latino individuals at increased risk for developing stress and subsequent mental health problems.3,4 This chapter will outline cultural factors that may affect the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of Hispanic/Latino clients.
