With the object of illustrating effects on health and social functions of occupational organic brain damage, a questionnaire study was carried out in 1986 concerning 192 brain-damaged painters and a reference group of 341 other painters. The study was repeated in 1990 to elucidate effects six to eight years after diagnosis. In 1986 a high prevalence of mental and psychosomatic symptoms was found among the brain-damaged painters. The prevalence correlated with severity of the disease, occupational situation and social network. In 1990 the same level of symptoms was found. In the reference group the prevalence of symptoms increased from 1986 to 1990. Besides the major difference in the prevalence of symptoms between the two groups, the level of symptoms correlated to the occupational situation in both groups. Twenty-seven percent of the brain-damaged painters were still at work in 1990. The high symptom level among the brain-damaged painters is considered to be chronic.