Mischa Barton 'was suicidal'

Mischa Barton's friends have reportedly claimed that they were so worried she would commit suicide last week that they called the police.

The former O.C. star was apparently placed under involuntary psychiatric hold after officers were called to her Hollywood home on Wednesday.

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton quotes a friend of Barton's as saying: "She's running out of money and can't find love, so now she is looking for a good time to escape her misery. She is on a downward spiral. She is a suicidal, uninsurable mess."

Referring to Barton's no-show at the premiere of new movie Homecoming, the source continued: "She is a tortured and troubled person. You can survive a bad review, but when you don't show up for the premiere of your new film, it's not a good sign of where your career is heading."

The 23-year-old's rep has denied that drugs were involved in the reported meltdown.