Cabassa Leopoldo J. author Columbia University. Social Work Zayas Luis H. author Hansen Marissa C. author Columbia University. Social Work originator text Articles 2006 manuscript version English Since the early 1980s, epidemiological studies using state-of-the-art methodologies have documented the unmet mental health needs of Latinos adults in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. This paper reviews 16 articles based on seven epidemiological studies, examines studies methodologies, and summarizes findings about how Latino adults access mental health services. Studies consistently report that, compared to non-Latino Whites, Latinos underutilize mental health services, are less likely to receive guideline congruent care, and rely more often on primary care for services. Structural, economic, psychiatric, and cultural factors influence Latinos' service access. In spite of the valuable information these studies provide, methodological limitations (e.g., reliance on cross-sectional designs, scarcity of mixed Latino group samples) constrict knowledge about Latinos access to mental health services. Areas for future research and development needed to improve Latinos' access and quality of mental health care are discussed. Mental health Hispanic American studies 33 3 316 330 2006-05 http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10488-006-0040-8 http://hdl.handle.net/10022/AC:P:15199 NNC NNC 2012-11-05 16:12:25 -0500 2012-11-05 16:25:10 -0500 9201 eng