peer reviewed ; The CIPUL ("Collectif d'Investigations Psychopharmacologiques à l'Université de Liège") groups psychiatrists specially sensitive to problems of clinical psychopharmacology. The homogeneity of the group results from their common formation at the Unit of Psychopharmacology (University of Liege) and allows a particular fidelity in diagnosis and clinical evaluation (rating scales). The new psychotropic drugs (of which the hospital study can be done at the Unit of Psychopharmacology) can be tested 'on the ground' in the natural environment of the patient, which corresponds to the therapeutic reality of the psychiatrist and foreshadows the one of the general practitioner who is the principal prescriber of psychotropic drugs (especially anxiolytic, hypnotic and antidepressant drugs). The psychotropic drugs that have been tested must comply with three main qualities: activity, tolerance, easy use. The work group puts together the data of the investigation. The postulate is the equality of judgment between investigators well-balanced by quantity of handled cases. The group has a co-ordinator (J. Collard) who prepares the experimental design, collects results, analyses and writes the final report. The results are rediffused for the general practitioners and the psychiatrists of the geographic area the University of Liege; then for international psychopharmacological information (CINP, ACNP). © 1981.