Los Angeles, Aug 8 - Friends of troubled actress Mischa Barton fear that her return to work for new TV series 'The Beautiful Life' is too early and she is on the verge of another breakdown.

Barton was placed under involuntary psychiatric hold at Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center last month after Los Angeles police took her from her home for an unconfirmed medical problem, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

The 23-year-old actress was hospitalised for two weeks under a 5150 hold which allows people to be forcibly held if they are deemed a danger to themselves or others or are gravely disabled or have a mental disorder.

'There still are issues. Mischa's just not herself at all. I think she has gone back to work too soon,' said a close friend.

'She is on the verge of another breakdown and I think it could be even more serious than the last one. She cries for no reason,' he added.