This review of the literature examines the role of language and culture in the mental health treatment of Hispanic clients. Several innovative approaches including the use ofdichos and cuento therapy are described that incorporate linguistic and cultural traits in treatment. The article proposes that the assessment of such factors as language proficiency, level of acculturation, and the degree to which cultural expressions represent symptomatology should be considered in the development of an effective treatment plan. The process of acculturation is presented as a critical dimension influencing language, cultural beliefs, and mental health. Recommendations are made for future research on issues relating to the use of language switching and language mixing in therapy.In recent years, the mental health profession has turned its attention toward developing culturally sensitive therapeutic approaches (see, e.g.,

We have investigated the relationships among the concentration of total serum polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), various PCB congener groupings, and three pesticides to total serum lipids in humans with and without self-reported cardiovascular disease. Blood samples were obtained from 335 adult Akwesasne Mohawks, and were analyzed for 101 PCB congeners, mirex, DDE, and hexachlorobenzene (HCB), as well as serum triglycerides and cholesterol. Structural equation modeling, following the definition of latent variables by means of confirmatory factor analysis, was used to analyze the relationships between serum lipids with PCBs and heart disease. There were significant associations among PCBs, lipids, age, and body mass index (BMI), a fact which justified the application of the structural equation model. Gender of the participant was unrelated to any of the remaining study variables. The results of this study are consistent with a model in which age is considered as both an exogenous explanatory variable and a biological driving mechanism for the acquisition of PCBs. Moreover, the results of this study are consistent with the conclusion that PCBs, acting through P450 enzymes, are directly responsible for increased synthesis of cholesterol and triglycerides, substances known to be major risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

The clinical and counseling psychology profession has witnessed a steady increase in research on the development and application of Hispanic/Latino-centered therapeutic approaches; however, little attention has been given to incorporating the dynamics of a client's language background in treatment. The authors discuss the important role of language representation and emotions and the implications for conducting therapy with bilingual clients who speak Spanish and English. The contributions of psychoanalysis and psycholinguistics that have guided the research on language issues in counseling and therapy are presented, and future directions in research, training, and practice are outlined. 1 We use the term Hispanic/Latino for two reasons. First, the group term Hispanic was created by the Office of Management and Budget and is defined as a "person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or other Spanish culture of origin" (Marín & Marín, 1991, p. 20). The purpose of creating this term was to categorize a group of people not by country of origin but by a common language-Spanish. Second, although the term Hispanic appears in most of the counseling and psychotherapy literature, the term Latino has been growing in popularity because it represents a political consciousness and a sense of ethnic pride, particularly among those residing in the United States. We choose to use both terms interchangeably throughout the article.

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