The new clinical psychopharmacology has helped to expand six areas: new drugs, prediction of response, side effects, therapeutic combinations and new uses for old drugs. Basic research (theoretical and experimental) has focused primarily on schizophrenia, affective disorders and anxiety. The Latin American psychiatrist must adopt neither a dependent nor a hyper-critical attitude toward this revolution. He can successfully contribute in the areas of nosology, laboratory tests and clinical psychopharmacology. He must selectively accept or critically screen the contributions of the new neuro-radiology and basic research. Finally, he must be pragmatic and never lose sight of his unique socio-cultural perspective.