The general nature of neuropsychiatric disorders of childhood, and the areas in which gains in understanding such disorders have been made are discussed in the first portion of this paper. Thereafter, discussion focuses on the contemporary approach to neuropsychiatric disorders of childhood as exemplified by three serious disturbances: attention deficit disorders, autism, and Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome of chronic multiple tics. Central processing or cognitive difficulties, attentional and activity regulation, personal/social/motivational disturbances, individual assessment, and treatment related to attention deficit disorders are described. The discussion then moves to delineate the characteristics of autism in the early and later years of childhood, as well as the causes and treatment of autism, and prospects for increased understanding of autism in the future. The discussion of Tourette's Syndrome focuses on the nature, causes, and treatment of the disorder. In a concluding overview, it is indicated that perhaps the predominant characteristic of the past several years of clinical investigation of neuropsychiatric disorders of childhood is a steady progression of knowledge and recognition of the complexity and interrelationships of developmental disorders. (Author/RH)