Objective:To compare the relative utility of conventional neuropsychological and social problem-solving approaches to measuring functional problem solving deficits in individuals with acquired brain damage (ABD).Design:In Study I, scores for individuals with ABD were compared to scores for control and normative samples. In Study II, pre- and posttest scores were compared for individuals with ABD who completed a program of outpatient cognitive rehabilitation.Participants:In Study I, individuals with ABD were compared to healthy controls. In Study II, pre- and posttreatment assessments were obtained for 34 individuals with ABD.Main Outcome Measures:Two approaches were used, conventional neuropsychological (WAIS-R/II Comprehension subtest and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test) and social problem solving (Problem Solving Inventory and Rusk Problem Solving Role Play Test).Results:In Study I, the ABD group demonstrated significant deficits on both social problem solving measures; however, neither conventional neuropsychological measure detected significant deficits in the ABD group, relative to control and normative groups. In Study II, significant treatment gains were demonstrated on both social problem-solving measures, however neither conventional neuropsychological measure was sensitive to improvements in functional problem-solving ability.Conclusions:In higher-level cognitive rehabilitation settings, the evaluation of functional problem-solving deficits in individuals with ABD can be facilitated by augmenting neuropsychological test data with results from social problem-solving measures.